Written answers

Wednesday, 29 September 2021

Department of Education and Skills

School Transport

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason school transport services are only carrying 50% capacity due to social distancing considering that public transport services can operate at 100% since 1 September 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46853/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020. 

 Planning for school transport for the 2021/22 school year has proceeded on the basis that the public health measures in place as schools closed at the end of the last school year would remain as term began in this new school year. This includes the recommendations from Public Health that post-primary services would operate at 50% capacity. All other measures relating to hygiene, pre-assigned seating, cleaning and the wearing of masks by post-primary students are also in place.  However, as the vaccination programme for children on post-primary services is rolled out and as the lifting of restrictions on public transport services proceeds, the capacity limit of 50% on post-primary school transport services will be subject to ongoing review and the Department will be considering the position in this regard over the coming weeks.

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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131. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special education transport applications that have been approved but not implemented by county for the 2020-2021 school year; and the status of payments to parents who must arrange their own transport. [46899/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma 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 2020/21 school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020. 

Under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for school transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability and  are attending the nearest recognised school/class that is resourced to meet their special educational needs. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers.  

With regard to the Deputy's request for the number of transport applications for children with Special Educational Needs that have been approved but not implemented by county for the 2020/21 school year, this information is not readily available, however School Transport Section of my Department will revert directly to the Deputy with this information when it is available.  

With regard to the status of payments to parents who must arrange their own transport, I can advise that payment in the form of a Special Transport Grant is available to families who have to transport their children to school in advance of the SEN service being set up. This grant is paid to the family once the service has been set up and once the school confirm the number of days that the child was being transported to school by their family. The grant is backdated to the date the transport application was made.

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