Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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153. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to improve pay and conditions to school escorts to encourage uptake of the position. [57317/21]

Norma 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, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.

The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.

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 and the school management authority employs the Bus Escort. Therefore terms and conditions of employment are a matter for the school as the employer, however schools are reminded that they must comply with all relevant employment legislation.

School Transport Section funds schools for the employment of Bus Escorts at the end of each school year by way of advance payment for the next school year. The hourly rate of pay for Bus Escorts is set by the Department and is reviewed from time to time following national public pay agreements. School management authorities are notified of any revised salary rates as they occur by way of circular issued from the Department of Education.