Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

206. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to clarify growing concerns among school bus escorts around their payment; if it is the case that school bus escorts are only paid from the minute a child gets on the school bus until they get off, despite many escorts spending up to an hour on the bus before a child gets on; and if Circular 0085/2024 can provide clarity to school boards of management to reassure schools and bus escorts of their working hours. [53461/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.

Further to my recent response to the Deputy on this matter, I can confirm that circular 0085/2024 guides Boards of Management/ETBs to the information pack that has been circulated to schools and is also available online.

The information pack is set out at the following link for the Deputy's information.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

207. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school bus service will return for a pupil (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53532/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.

Unfortunately, difficulties have arisen in a number of locations, with a small number of contracted services, where it has not yet been possible to provide vehicles / drivers.

These difficulties have arisen in some cases due to lack of driver or contractor availability and this is affecting the service referred to by the Deputy. The Bus Éireann local office is working to source cover for this service and will contact the family as soon as it is ready to start.

Both the department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for children with special educational needs. Families of children who are eligible for these services may therefore receive an interim Special Transport Grant (STG). This is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place and is intended to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until the service starts. Affected families do not need to apply for this grant and will be contacted directly by School Transport Section in my department with more details.