Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021
567. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the plans in place to re-establish safe school transport for those attending special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16481/21]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 113,100 children, including over 14,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
Based on the public health advice published in early July 2020, and the updated advice received from the HPSC on 7th August and from NPHET on the 18th August 202, the 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 and with the rolling implementation of measures on post-primary services as required to provide physical distancing, using 50 per cent of passenger capacity.
Bus Éireann and the Department of Education have put in place measures to support infection prevention and control on all services. The Department has also issued detailed information and guidance to parents and children on the operation of school transport services for the 2020/2021 school year. Measures include all post-primary students wearing masks, all bus drivers and bus escorts receiving PPE where necessary, as well as funding to support additional cleaning and hygiene measures, including the provision of sanitiser on all buses. Seating plans with pre-assigned seating are also in place on all routes, with children sitting next to their siblings or classmates where possible which reduces interaction on school transport services.
