Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 July 2020
409. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Skills if social distancing will be a requirement on school transport; if so, when guidelines about these requirements will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17032/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills.
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.
In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
I recently welcomed the publication of interim public health advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in relation to the reopening of schools. Engagement with stakeholders on the public health advice and planning process for both primary and post-primary schools will continue over the coming weeks.
With regard to the reopening of schools for the 2020/21 academic year, my Department is currently engaging intensively with Bus Éireann, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the National Transport Authority on the logistical considerations that arise from public health advice in planning for the reopening of schools. The operation of school transport services in September 2020 will be informed by the outcome of this planning for reopening schools.
