Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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128. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if employment terms and conditions for school bus escorts will be reviewed to allow for entitlement to sick leave and school holidays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31780/20]

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. 

There is a facility within the Special Needs Transport Scheme for the appointment of a School Bus Escort where a child’s care and safety needs while on school transport are such to require the support of an escort.  The appointment of the Bus Escort, where required, is sanctioned by the Department of Education.  The school management authority employs the Bus Escort and the terms and conditions of employment are a matter for the school authority as the employer. 

School Bus Escorts are entitled to annual leave in accordance with the Organisation of Working Time

Act 1997. In addition there are agreed  sick leave arrangements in place for approved School Bus Escorts employed by Boards of Management.