Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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293. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reintroduce the 50% capacity rule on school transport services as a measure that may assist in reducing Covid-19 transmission opportunities in view of increasing cases in school settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59789/21]

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 2020/21 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.

For the 2020/21 school year, based on public health advice the Department provided for School Transport Scheme services to fully operate, but with additional measures in place including the operation of post-primary transport services at 50% capacity. Primary services operated at 100% capacity but with additional measures and hygiene requirements in place.

For the 2021/22 school year, planning for school transport scheme services 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 the term began in this new school year. This included the operation of post-primary services at 50% capacity. The Department has kept this position under review as the vaccination programme for children on post-primary services was rolled out and as the lifting of restrictions on public transport services proceeded.

In line with the lifting of restrictions on public transport, and with effect from the return of schools following the October mid-term break, implementation commenced for post-primary school transport services to resume operating at 100% capacity. All other measures relating to hygiene, pre-assigned seating, cleaning and the wearing of masks by post-primary students will remain in place subject to further review. With regard to primary transport, measures relating to hygiene, pre-assigned seating and cleaning continue to be in place also.

With regard to post-primary special needs transport services, the Department is working with schools on a case by case basis where such services may be required to continue operating at 50% capacity.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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294. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the case of a child (details supplied) who has not received a ticket for a school bus will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59793/21]

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 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 my Department’s School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms at primary and 4.8kms at post-primary and are attending their nearest School/Education Centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only. Concessionary transport is subject to a number of terms and conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service. The availability of concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s education cycle. Routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis. Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann allocates tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.

Bus Éireann has advised that the pupils referred to by the Deputy are not attending their closest Post Primary Centre, and are therefore not eligible for transport under the terms of the scheme. Bus Éireann has also advised that the pupils were unsuccessful in obtaining a seat for the 2021/22 school year. Payment for the pupils in question was received on the 30th July 2021 for the 21/22 school year and a refund was issued on the 3rd September 2021.

In line with the lifting of restrictions on public transport, and with effect from the return of schools following the October mid-term break, implementation commenced for post-primary school transport services to resume operating at 100% capacity. This process will take a period of time to re-organise and re-schedule services and communications will be issued to families regarding any revised arrangements. Where additional vehicles that were provided for social distancing purposes are removed, any spare capacity available may be offered on those services to concessionary pupils or late applicants where such capacity exists.