Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
443. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the way in which secondary school transport for special needs schools will be delivered specifically in terms of face coverings, social distancing, mixing of different isolation groups and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23924/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. 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.
Based on the public health advice published in early July, my Department has been planning for School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021 school year to fully operate, but with additional measures and hygiene requirements in place. The Department has been engaging intensively with Bus Éireann in regard to the logistics for the safe operation of School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021 school year.
Updated health advice was received from NPHET on the 18th August, which impacts on the operation of post-primary school transport services. This advice stated that for secondary school students on school transport, strict distancing should be ensured in line with that on public transport along with the wearing of face coverings and that primary school students should distance where possible.
Following the most recent advice from NPHET, the Government decided that the post-primary scheme (including post-primary services for pupils with special educational needs) would commence operation when schools re-open with additional measures in place, such as pre-assigned seating and additional hygiene and cleaning measures on services and with the rolling implementation of measures to provide physical distancing, in line with those required on public transport, which is using 50% of passenger capacity, on the post- primary services as required.
Given the timing of this most recent advice from NPHET so close to the start of the new term, my Department has not withdrawn post-primary transport services for pupils with special educational needs as to do so may have caused difficulty for many families in getting their children to school.
My Department has engaged with Bus Éireann to implement measures so that any services that could operate from the start of the school year at 50% capacity have done so and over the coming period all other services for children of post-primary school going age will be re-organised and additional services will be provided as required to allow for physical distancing.
Every effort continues to provide a safe transport service for all pupils and my Department has issued detailed information and guidance to parents and children on the operation of school transport services for the 2020/2021 school year. However, if parents/guardians of children on post-primary transport services for children with special educational needs decide not to use school transport for the 2020/2021 school year, in light of the impact of most recent health advice, the Department will provide a grant to support them with the cost of private transport arrangements. Parents/guardians have been contacted directly and asked to inform the Department if they wish to avail of this option.
