School Transport Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 September 2015

Wednesday, 23 September 2015

Questions (119, 120)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

119. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills with reference to the primary school transport scheme document on her website, if children in junior and senior infants whose school day finishes an hour earlier than the other children in the school and who avail of school transport can wait in the school for this hour until their bus picks them up based on point five of an agreement between her Department and Bus Éireann, which states an eligible child will not have to wait more than 1.5 hours per day (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32359/15]

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

120. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills her Department's policy regarding the supervision of children in junior and senior infants who avail of school transport and who finish an hour earlier than the other children in the school; if the school is obliged to provide supervision for this hour; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32363/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together.

One of the main objectives of the School Transport Scheme is to ensure that, as far as possible, eligible children have a reasonable level of service while at the same time, ensuring that school transport vehicles are fully utilised in an efficient and cost effective manner.

In this regard, Bus Éireann generally plan and timetable school transport services for children who are in attendance for the full school day.

Children in infant classes may have a school day that is one hour shorter than the length of the normal school day. This is a concession in the interests of young children and allows for a perceived inability on their part to sustain the work of the full day. It is a matter for the Board of Management of a particular school to decide whether the concession should be applied in the case of the school or not. It is also a matter for the managerial authorities to arrange adequate supervision for children while they are on the school premises.