Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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189. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter regarding the lack of masks and social distancing on school transport for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28037/20]

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, and the updated advice received from the HPSC on 7^thAugust and from NPHET on the 18^thAugust, the Department has been planning for School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021 school year to fully operate, but with additional measures and hygiene requirements in place and with the rolling implementation of measures on post-primary services as required to provide physical distancing, in line with those required on public transport, which is using 50 per cent of passenger capacity.  The planning to date is in accordance with the Government decision of 18th August, which set out that arrangements for school transport would proceed as planned for re-opening but the Minster for Education and Skills and the Minister for Health and other relevant Ministers will review measures, including any additional resources, to ensure the safe operation of school transport for secondary school children.

School Transport Scheme services commenced operation on the 26^thAugust 2020. All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on transport services for the 2020/2021 school year where such services are in operation.

My Department has issued detailed information and guidance to parents and children on the operation of school transport services for the 2020/2021 school year.  All children using school transport scheme services are asked to comply with a number of guidelines including that all children on post-primary transport services are required to wear facemasks while waiting for and on-board transport services (with the exception of children who for medical or special educational needs reasons are not in a position to wear a facemask or face covering).

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. The Department has also been engaging with Bus Éireann on the logistics involved with the rolling implementation of measures on post-primary services as required to provide physical distancing, in line with those required on public transport, which is using 50 per cent of passenger capacity.

An assessment of the resources required to implement physical distancing on all post-primary services has been undertaken and, in line with the Government decision of 18^thAugust, the Department has reviewed this information in consultation with other relevant Departments.

I am pleased to announce that, following a Government Decision on the 29th of September, Government has agreed to provide the necessary funding to ensure full implementation of the measures required for the operation of school transport for post-primary children that is aligned to updated health advice received from NPHET on the 18^thof August, for which the estimated full year cost to operate all services at 50% capacity is between €87m and €135m with an estimated requirement for an additional 1,600 drivers and vehicles and 650 additional School Bus Escorts.

If there are individual concerns about a particular service, parents/guardians are advised to contact School Transport Section of my Department or their local Bus Éireann office.