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

374. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that school bus escorts were paid from the moment they began their working day and now they are not being paid until the moment a child gets on the bus despite many escorts being on the bus for up to an hour before hand; and if she will engage with the ETBs to resolve this issue. [56501/25]

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.

The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs. Transport is also provided for children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and those residing in IPAS/EROC centres.

The total expenditure on the scheme in 2024 was €512m.

There is a facility within the Special Educational Needs Transport Scheme for the appointment of a School Transport Escort where a child’s care and safety needs while on school transport are such as to require the support of a School Transport Escort.

It is recognised that School Bus Escorts play a vital role in supporting children with Special Educational Needs in their journey to and from school.

The Board of Management/ETB are responsible for the employment of the School Transport Escort. The Department of Education provides grant funding directly to the school for the employment of the School Transport Escort and sets the rate of pay.

School Transport Escort hours are determined locally by the Board of Management/ETB and may vary from school to school depending on the length of the journey for the child/children on the service, the number of children on the service and the opening/closing times of the school.

The School Transport Escort will generally be considered as starting their working day when the first child who requires escort assistance boards the service. The Escort will generally be considered as finishing their working day when the last child who requires escort assistance is dropped at their destination. These times, morning and afternoon, determine the working hours of the Escort.

The Escort can meet the service at the pick-up point of the first child requiring assistance on the service. Local arrangements between driver and Escort as to pick up points can be accommodated upon mutual agreement however any deviation of the route is not funded by the Department.

Home pickups for School Transport Escorts are not a feature of the School Transport Scheme.

Further information can also be found on gov.ie at;

www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/collections/services-for-schools-and-school-staff/