Written Answers Nos. 443-462
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Given the timing of this most recent advice from NPHET so close to the start of the new term, my Department has not withdrawn post-primary transport services for pupils with special educational needs as to do so may have caused difficulty for many families in getting their children to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.
444. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education if a school bus route can be changed following contact with Bus Éireann school transport (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23932/20]
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.
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.
Bus Éireann have advised that they have conducted a search on their records and cannot find applications for the pupils referred to by the Deputy.
Officials in the School Transport Section of my Department have contacted the Deputy's office seeking further information on these pupils and once received, my Department will liaise with the Deputy directly in regard to his query.
445. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education when guidelines will be issued regarding the practical aspects of geography (details supplied) including fieldwork; if funding will be set aside for schools to purchase equipment for the purpose of fieldwork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23935/20]
View answerThe Leaving Certificate Geographical Investigation accounts for 20% of the overall marks for Leaving Certificate Geography. The purpose of the investigation is to allow students to experience the practical application of the core geographical skills that are central to all units of the syllabus including physical, regional, human and economic geography. Students are required to identify aims, objectives and hypotheses for their investigation, select and use methods of collection and gathering appropriate to the chosen investigation topic, analyse and interpret results, draw valid conclusions and prepare a report.
The topic for the investigation must be chosen from an annual list of prescribed topics issued from the State Examinations Commission. The list of prescribed topics is prepared to ensure that the range of topics relate to as many of the units of the syllabus as possible including physical, regional, human and economic geography. This broad scope also ensures that the geographical investigation is accessible to as broad a range of learners and learning environments.
Furthermore, the list of topics provides scope and flexibility for a broad range of approaches to the investigation which may include the undertaking of a field study or an investigation which may involve desk based research. The 2021 investigation topics include a study of changing land-use, impact of migration, a local environmental issue, geology in a local area, impact of economic activity and impact of erosion on the landscape. The collection and gathering of information for each of these topics may involve gathering data through outside the school vis-à-vis an field study, survey, questionnaire etc. Alternatively, data may be collected using primary and secondary data available from journals, databases, government departments, published reports etc.
Some students may have the collection and gathering of data completed at this stage and in such cases they should complete their analysis and write up their report. In cases where the collection and gathering of data has not being undertaken, the flexibility of approach provided by the range of prescribed topics should be considered when choosing a topic for the geographical investigation in order that the investigation can be completed in line with public health requirements and guidelines. Any activity undertaken as part of the investigation should be done in compliance with these requirements.
The Department has also published a series of guidance documents as part of the reopening of our schools. These are available on www.gov.ie/backtoschool.
This includes guidance regarding practical subjects in post-primary schools. While this guidance does not specifically name Geography, the guidance provided in provided in relation to Science is applicable. The guidelines outline areas that may be considered when schools are making decisions about implementing the curriculum, while acknowledging that teachers are best placed to consider how to safely manage equipment within current public health guidelines as they may account for their own local context.
For example, the guidance advises that where the sharing of equipment between students cannot be avoided, each piece of shared equipment should be cleaned/wiped between each use and that group sizes should be kept as small as resources allow.
The additional funding for the reopening of schools has been provided specifically for the safe reopening of schools. This includes funding for substitute teachers, aides for school restructuring, minor works, PPE and additional cleaning. Schools typically use their capitation grant to purchase curricular related materials and equipment.
446. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education when a school transport grant payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23943/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department.
In the 2019/2020 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.
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.
I am pleased to advise that a payment was made to the account of the parent referred to by the Deputy on 9th September 2020 toward the cost of private transportation of the child referred to in this case to the school they are attending.
447. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the status of the new school transport concession in which parents can claim back an allowance for dropping their children to school; the criteria of the scheme; the process for applying; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23944/20]
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.
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.
Based on the public health advice published in early July, my Department had 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 had 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. Funding has been provided to private transport providers who are contracted by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department to operate the School Transport Scheme services in order to meet these requirements.
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.
The Department has been engaging with Bus Éireann in respect of these plans, in order to implement measures so that any services that can operate from the start of the school year at 50% capacity will do so and over the coming period all other post-primary transport services 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 when schools re-open. However, if parents decide not to avail of transport services they may request a refund on the cost of their ticket for the 2020/2021 school year.
For those children who are eligible for transport under the terms of the post-primary school transport scheme and whose parents decide not to use post-primary 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 were asked to inform the Department by Friday the 4th of September if they wished to avail of this option.
Grants will be paid at the end of the school year following receipt of relevant documentation confirming the number of days the child/ren has attended school in the 2020/2021 school year. The grant is based on the distance a family resides from their school of eligibility, with a minimum daily rate of €2.60 and a maximum daily rate of €5.10.
448. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education the position in relation to the possible delays to a school (details supplied) transferring to its new premises; if this matter can be expedited in view of the severe disruption that delays will have in terms of the school not being in a position to transfer during the summer months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23959/20]
View answerThe permanent project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design & Build Programme. Work is ongoing to progress the tender process for this school as the first project on the new D&B Contractors Framework 2.
It remains the Departments priority to ensure that the accommodation referred to by the Deputy is available for the school to decant into when that becomes necessary on the appointment of a contractor to commence work on their site.
449. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education the planning position in regard to the new post-primary school for south Drogheda, County Louth; if she will provide other relevant updates on the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23960/20]
View answerDrogheda Educate Together Secondary School opened in 2019 in interim accommodation in a state owned building in Laytown/Bettystown. It has since re-opened in 2020 in further interim temporary accommodation at Colpe/Mill Road, Drogheda pending delivery of its permanent accommodation
My Department is committed to providing permanent accommodation to meet the needs of the school to which the Deputy refers. As the Deputy is aware, a number of potential site options have been identified and officials from my Department are currently appraising same. Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
I can, however, assure the Deputy that the acquisition of a new site for the school is a priority for the Department and the patron body will be informed of the location for the school as soon as it is possible to do so. In this regard, the school building project will be progressed into Architectural Planning once a suitable site has been acquired.
450. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education the status of the proposed Louth and Meath Education and Training Board, LMETB, headquarters in Drogheda, County Louth; the reason for the unacceptable delays to the commencement of this vital project for the town of Drogheda; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23961/20]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (LMETB).
A number of design issues have arisen with this project. These have included issues relating to the need for additional security features for the proposed building that became apparent at tender stage and which required a change in brief with consequent design alterations. Currently, the capacity of the building, and the number of staff it is required to accommodate, is being reviewed to ensure it meets the needs of LMETB into the future.
I can assure the Deputy that every effort to progress the project has been made and will continue to be made. I can also inform the Deputy that a further meeting to progress the matter is being arranged to take place in the coming weeks in that respect.
451. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if a DEIS review has been completed; if so, the outcome; if the review will benefit schools in the County Louth and east County Meath area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23974/20]
View answerMy Department is in the final stages of refinement of the new DEIS identification model, based on school enrolment data and the latest data available from Census 2016 using the HP Deprivation Index. A detailed quality analysis of the data has been carried out by members of the DEIS Technical Group which contains representatives of the Department’s Statistics and Social Inclusion Units, the Inspectorate and the Educational Research Centre. The work of this group is at an advanced stage and a consultation process with education stakeholder representatives on the technical aspect of this model has commenced. It is envisaged that this will then provide the basis for development of a DEIS resource allocation system to match resources to identified need and will be applied on the same basis across the country.
I am confident that the culmination of this work will facilitate the ultimate aim of matching resources to identified need and will allow us to target extra resources at those schools most in need. Until this work is complete, it is not intended to extend the DEIS programme to any further schools.
452. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Education if the case of students (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23982/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In the 2019/2020 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.
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.
Officials in School Transport Section of my Department are liaising with Bus Éireann in regard to the matter raised by the Deputy and will contact the parent directly as requested.
453. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education the degree to which she has considered an open-window policy at all times in schools in order to increase ventilation in an attempt to decrease the spread of Covid-19 in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23988/20]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has recently published updated guidance on ventilation in classrooms on the back to school website and this includes guidance on the issue to which she refers. This can be found at the following web address: www.gov.ie/en/publication/7acad-reopening-our-post-primary-schools/.
454. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) will have a permanent building; if a detailed schedule for the work will be provided; the date on which planning permission for the building will be submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23990/20]
View answerThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme. A pre-planning meeting was held with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council earlier in the year and this is informing the design for the project. Lodgement of the Planning Application will be the next key milestone in the progression of the project. To this end, the final pre-planning meeting is due to be held with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council on the 23rd September next. My Department's Project Manager for the Design and Build programme is working towards submission of the planning application as soon as possible. Until such time as planning permission has been secured, it will not be possible to provide a timeline for progression of the project to tender and construction stages.
455. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education the preparation that has been undertaken to facilitate urgent same-day Covid-19 tests for teachers to allow for the continuity of care of children, the building of relationships and in order to ease anxiety of both children and teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23995/20]
View answerThe Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the HSE have published guidance for managing potential cases of COVID-19 in educational settings, which includes the testing strategy within an educational facility ‘Schools Pathway for COVID-19, the Public Health approach’ www.gov.ie/en/publication/a0bff-reopening-our-primary-and-special-schools/.
This guidance recognises that while there are confirmed cases within the community, there will be suspect or confirmed cases amongst pupils and staff with schools and sets out the arrangements for managing these possibilities.
My Department has also published a suite of helpful guidance for the safe and sustainable reopening of schools. Each school is required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe operation through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in line with public health advice. This guidance is focused on the practical steps schools must take to minimise the risk of transmission of infection. Where this arises the Medial Officer of Health and team will liaise directly with schools and carry out a public health risk assessment which will inform any further actions.
My Department has also developed and prepared a comprehensive response to supporting the wellbeing of school communities at this time. NEPS will work with schools to support them to meet the needs of their pupils/students on their return to school. Information on the wellbeing of school communities can be accessed via gov.ie - Wellbeing resources.
456. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if additional transport can be provided for post-primary pupils attending college (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23999/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In the 2019/2020 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.
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.
Under the terms of the Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest Post Primary School/Education Centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Where there is more than one school in a Post Primary Education Centre, Central Measuring Points (CMPs) such as bus stations/post offices are a feature of the school transport scheme. CMPs have assisted in the smooth operation of services for many years. The use of CMPs benefits families by ensuring that children of the same family, who are attending different schools in the same education centre, are eligible for school transport provided they satisfy the distance criterion to the CMP rather than the individual school.
Bus Éireann, who operate school transport on behalf of my Department, has advised that there are currently 12 school transport services operating to the Central Measuring Point that serves the school referred to by the Deputy and one other post primary school.
In the morning, school transport services drop off 0.55 km from the post primary school referred to in this case. In the afternoon, school transport services pick up 0.9 km from the school referred to at the central collection point.
Bus Éireann has advised that the current central collection point is the only location that can facilitate 12 vehicles being parked and ready for collection of pupils attending these post primary schools.
457. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education the number of post-primary school buses contracted for the provision of school transport for the 2020-21 academic year; the number of these buses now running at 50% capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24012/20]
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 2020/2021school 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.
My Department has been engaging with Bus Éireann in respect of these plans, to implement measures so that any services that can operate from the start of the school year at 50% capacity will do so and over the coming period all other post-primary transport services will be re-organised and additional services will be provided as required to allow for physical distancing.
Bus Éireann is conducting a full assessment to see where re-organisation or re-scheduling of services is possible. In addition, Bus Éireann has recently invited applications from operators who wish to be considered for the provision of additional post-primary services that may be required.
As of the 11th September 2020 there were 2206 mainstream Post Primary routes in operation. 20% of these routes are operating at 50% capacity while in the region of 52% of SEN post-primary services are operating at 50% capacity with planning being undertaken by Bus Éireann to implement the remaining routes on a rolling basis. This process will take into account procurement guidelines and compliance with driver vetting and safety procedures consistent with the operation of school transport services.
458. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if the necessary resources will be provided to Bus Éireann allow it to roll out urgently the 50% reduction in post-primary school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24014/20]
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 2020/2021school 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.
My Department is engaging with Bus Éireann in respect of these plans, to implement measures so that any services that can operate from the start of the school year at 50% capacity will do so and over the coming period all other post-primary transport services will be re-organised and additional services will be provided as required to allow for physical distancing.
Bus Éireann is conducting a full assessment to see where re-organisation or re-scheduling of services is possible. In addition, Bus Éireann has recently invited applications from operators who wish to be considered for the provision of additional post-primary services that may be required.
459. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the position on face covering exemptions for secondary school students; the circumstances in which a student may be exempted from wearing a face covering; the medical evidence the parents must provide to secure and an exemption in which there is an appeals process in place if the school refuses an exemption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24026/20]
View answerMy Department received advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on the use of face coverings in educational settings on the 6th August 2020. It is a requirement for face coverings to be worn by teachers, staff in schools and students attending post primary school.
However Public health advice also provides that cloth face coverings should not be worn by any of the following groups:
- any person with difficulty breathing
- any person who is unable to remove the face-covering without assistance
- any person who has special needs and who may feel upset or very uncomfortable wearing the face covering, for example persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, sensory concerns or tactile sensitivity.
A medical certificate must be provided to the school where an exemptions is sought on the above grounds. There is no capacity for schools to deviate from either the requirement to wear face coverings or the exemptions that apply.
Advice for schools on the use of face coverings is available in the COVID-19 Response Plans for schools published on the www.gov.ie/backtoschool.
460. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the redress or opportunity for a review for a student (details supplied) whose school awarded grades for the 2020 leaving certificate that were significantly reduced by her Department, thus affecting the student's chances of obtaining his or her course of choice through the CAO system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24041/20]
View answerThe results of the Leaving Certificate 2020 Calculated Grades were made available to all students who opted to receive them at 9.00 am on 7 September via the Calculated Grades Student Portal. I would like to congratulate all students for their achievements in what has been a very trying time for them due to the impact of COVID-19 on their education.
The Calculated Grades Student Portal has reopened on 14 September at 9.00 am to allow students to view their estimated percentage mark and calculated mark. Students may wish to have access to and consider this data if they are considering an appeal of their Calculated Grade.
Students who are disappointed with the Calculated Grades they have received in one or more subjects will have the opportunity to submit an appeal.
The appeals process is a process review focussed on looking for errors in the transmission and processing of student data through the process.
It is not possible to appeal the information (estimated percentage mark or rank order) provided by the school. Due to the nature of the Calculated Grades system the professional judgement of the school is outside of the appeals process.
It should further be noted that the design of the statistical model and the application of the national standardisation process is also outside of the scope of the appeals process.
The appeals process has opened on 14 September and students can access this via the Calculated Grades Student Portal. Students will have until 5.00 pm on 16 September to submit an appeal.
The appeal process will include three stages:
Stage 1: Checks will be undertaken on the forms completed by the school and that the information was transferred correctly from the forms to the data collection system.
Stage 2: There will be a review to ensure that the data was correctly received and processed through the systems used in the national standardisation process conducted by the Department.
Data checks will include a check to ensure that the rank order of the class group for the subject and level taken has been preserved in the standardisation process and that students placed on the same school-estimated mark in the same subject and at the same level taken by the school are conferred with the same calculated mark.
Stages 1 and 2 will be taken together.
Stage 3: Students unhappy with the outcome of the above process can invoke a separate process to have their appeal reviewed by independent Appeals Scrutineers. These Scrutineers are independent of the Department.
The Independent Appeals Scrutineers will check to ensure the correct procedures were followed throughout the appeals process. The Scrutineers will have access to the records and documentation considered at Stages 1 and 2.
Students who consider that their case has not been processed correctly can make a complaint to the Ombudsman or, in the case of students under 18 years of age, the Ombudsman for Children.
If following the appeals process students remain dissatisfied with the outcome, students will be able to sit the 2020 written Leaving Certificate exams. Subject to public health advice, these will begin on 16 November. Further details about these exams will be provided by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) at a later stage. Those who sit the examinations will be credited with the higher subject grade achieved between the Calculated Grade and the written exam.
461. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Education the instructions provided by her Department to schools in respect of outdoor breaks for students under the Covid-19 response plan for safe reopening of primary and special schools particularly in the event of inclement weather; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24057/20]
View answerMy Department has published a suite of helpful guidance for the safe and sustainable reopening of schools. Each school is required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe operation through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in line with public health advice. This guidance is focused on the practical steps schools must take to minimise the risk of transmission of infection and includes key measures such as physical distancing.
In order to facilitate physical distancing in primary schools, pupils and their teachers may be sorted into ‘Class Bubbles’ and ‘Pods’. A ‘Class Bubble’ is a class grouping which stays apart from other classes as much as possible. The objective is to limit contact and sharing of common facilities between people in different Class Bubbles (and Pods within those Class Bubbles) as much as possible, rather than to avoid all contact between Pods, as this will not always be possible.
Whenever possible, pupils and teaching staff should consistently be in the same Class Bubbles. Different Class Bubbles should have separate breaks and mealtimes or occupy separate areas at break or mealtimes. Movement of staff members between Class Bubbles should be limited as much as possible.
While recognising that each school is different in terms of location, physical layout and available space, school themselves are best placed to decide on appropriate changes necessary to maintain physical distancing.
462. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education the number of extra coaches and vehicles and the associated additional seating capacity obtained by her Department for school transport up to 11 September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24111/20]
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 2020/2021school 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.
My Department has been engaging with Bus Éireann in respect of these plans, to implement measures so that any services that can operate from the start of the school year at 50% capacity will do so and over the coming period all other post-primary transport services will be re-organised and additional services will be provided as required to allow for physical distancing.
Bus Éireann is conducting a full assessment to see where re-organisation or re-scheduling of services is possible. In addition, Bus Éireann has recently invited applications from operators who wish to be considered for the provision of additional post-primary services that may be required.
As of the 11th September 2020 there were 2206 mainstream Post Primary routes in operation. 20% of these routes are operating at 50% capacity while in the region of 52% of SEN post-primary services are operating at 50% capacity with planning being undertaken by Bus Éireann to implement the remaining routes on a rolling basis. This process will take into account procurement guidelines and compliance with driver vetting and safety procedures consistent with the operation of school transport services.
