Written answers

Tuesday, 7 December 2021

Department of Education and Skills

School Transport

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

324. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason students who only received a school bus ticket in recent weeks are being forced to pay for the entire school term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60229/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 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.

Where additional vehicles that were provided for social distancing purposes are removed and when services resume operating at 100% capacity, any spare capacity available may be offered on those services to concessionary pupils or late applicants where such capacity exists.

With regard to parents who have recently been offered tickets being required to make payment for the full year, a refund for the unused portion of their ticket will be issued to the family at the end of this school year.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.