Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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462. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of extra coaches and vehicles and the associated additional seating capacity obtained by her Department for school transport up to 11 September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24111/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.

Based on the public health advice published in early July, my Department has been planning for School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021school year to fully operate, but with additional measures and hygiene requirements in place. The Department has been engaging intensively with Bus Éireann in regard to the logistics for the safe operation of School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021 school year.

Updated health advice was received from NPHET on the 18th August, which impacts on the operation of post-primary school transport services. This advice stated that for secondary school students on school transport, strict distancing should be ensured in line with that on public transport along with the wearing of face coverings.

My Department has been engaging with Bus Éireann in respect of these plans, to implement measures so that any services that can operate from the start of the school year at 50% capacity will do so and over the coming period all other post-primary transport services will be re-organised and additional services will be provided as required to allow for physical distancing.

Bus Éireann is conducting a full assessment to see where re-organisation or re-scheduling of services is possible. In addition, Bus Éireann has recently invited applications from operators who wish to be considered for the provision of additional post-primary services that may be required.

As of the 11th September 2020 there were 2206 mainstream Post Primary routes in operation. 20% of these routes are operating at 50% capacity while in the region of 52% of SEN post-primary services are operating at 50% capacity with planning being undertaken by Bus Éireann to implement the remaining routes on a rolling basis. This process will take into account procurement guidelines and compliance with driver vetting and safety procedures consistent with the operation of school transport services.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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463. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she or her officials have met LocalLink or other community-based transport initiatives on resolving the school transport situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24112/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. 

In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019. 

The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. Under the terms of the Department's School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport   if they satisfy the distance criteria (3.2km at primary and 4.8km at post-primary) and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. 

Officials from my Department have regular engagement the National Transport Authority, who have responsibility for LocalLink, on transport related issues. 

As the Deputy may be aware, a Review of the School Transport Scheme was announced by my predecessor in October 2019.  Given the current evolving situation with Covid-19 the proposed review has been delayed.  I propose to convene the Steering Group shortly and to agree and supplement revised terms of reference to reflect the Programme for Government including an examination of issues such as the nearest or next-nearest school. It is intended that the review will, among other issues, examine the potential for a more co-ordinated approach with other Government Departments that also fund transport services.