Duncan Smith
Question:547. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of the provision of a new secondary school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21328/21]
View answerSchools Building Projects
Questions (547)
Written answers
As the Deputy is aware, Officials from my Department are currently in advanced negotiation with a landowner. This negotiation is ongoing. Officials from my Department continue to work closely with Officials from Kildare County Council in order to progress the acquisition of a suitable site for the replacement Curragh post primary school.
While a site acquisition process is underway, given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (548)
Duncan Smith
Question:548. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of the provision of an extension to a primary school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21329/21]
View answerWritten answers
The extension refurbishment project for Scoil Mhichil Naofa, Athy, is at an advanced stage of the tender process. The school authority were recently authorised to issue the letter of intent to the preferred tenderer.
My Department is currently awaiting the return of the completed supplementary tender report and when this is received and considered my Department will revert directly to the school authority regarding the progression of the project to construction stage.
Subject to no issues arising during the balance of the tender process it is anticipated that the project will commence late on site late in Quarter 2/early in Quarter 3 with a construction period of approximately 26 months.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (549)
Duncan Smith
Question:549. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of the provision of a new primary school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21330/21]
View answerWritten answers
The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. The project is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b) Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured.
The Stage 2(b) Report has been reviewed by my Department and Design Team confirmations, that they have carried out a final review of tender documentation have been received.
The pre-qualification process to select a short list of contractors is currently nearing completion.
Upon completion of the pre-qualification process, my Department will revert to the school and its Design Team regarding the further progression of this major building project to the next stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 3 - Tender Stage.
Subject to no issues arising a tender stage normally takes between 6 to 8 months to complete.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (550)
Duncan Smith
Question:550. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of the provision of a new secondary school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21331/21]
View answerWritten answers
The project for the school referred to by the Deputy commenced on site in October 2020 and is progressing satisfactorily with a contract duration of approximately 20 months.
School Accommodation
Questions (551)
Duncan Smith
Question:551. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of the provision of additional secondary school places (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21333/21]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas (SPAs) in Kildare including the areas highlighted by the Deputy.
Where capacity issues arise it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Until these issues are discussed with the relevant school authorities the true extent of any capacity issue will only become known.
Similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies, including in the area in question, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action.
As the Deputy is aware, there are a number of building projects planned for South Kildare including the following:
- It is intended that significant additional capacity to address this demand will be provided by the planned new 1000 pupil building for the existing Curragh post primary school. This is intended to provide capacity to cater for demand arising in the Kildare School planning area as well as that in the Newbridge and Curragh SPAs. Officials in the Department are currently in advanced negotiation with a landowner, in regard to the proposed acquisition of a site deemed suitable for the replacement Curragh post primary school. This negotiation is ongoing, in line with our comprehensive site selection criteria, technical consideration and input from Kildare County Council.
- St Conleth's Community College have agreed to enrol an additional 1st year class for the 2021/22 school year and the Patron has agreed to the expansion of the school to cater for a total capacity of 1,000 pupils .
- The accommodation brief for the major project for Cross and Passion College, Kilcullen has also been increased to cater for a 1,000 pupil school to provide for increased demographic growth.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (552)
Catherine Murphy
Question:552. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education when she expects construction works to commence on a school (details supplied); and the expected duration of such works. [21435/21]
View answerWritten answers
A major school building project to provide new accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy has been authorised by my Department to proceed to tender for the appointment of a Building Contractor.
Subject to no issues arising during the tender process, it is anticipated that construction should commence in the third quarter of 2021 with a construction period of approximately 20 months.
School Transport
Questions (553)
Duncan Smith
Question:553. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education her plans to ensure Ireland does not have a repeat of the capacity issues in school transport which happened at the start of the current academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21448/21]
View answerWritten answers
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 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.
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 School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms at primary and not less than 4.8 kms at post-primary and are attending their nearest school/education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/21 school year where such services are in operation.
Applications for school transport for the 2021/22 school year should be made on-line on Bus Éireann’s website at www.buseireann.ie . The closing date for applications for the 2021/22 school year is 30th April 2021.
Children who are eligible and who apply and pay on time are accommodated on transport services where such services are in operation. A service may be established where a sufficient number of eligible pupils, within an area apply for transport.
Children who apply for transport but who are not eligible are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s primary or post primary school education cycle. Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann determines the allocation of the tickets and refunds payments made on behalf of those concessionary applicants for whom no seats remain.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (554)
Neale Richmond
Question:554. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the reason for the freeze in reprofiling schools to determine their complex needs hours for the 2021-2022 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21457/21]
View answerWritten answers
A new model for allocating Special Education Teachers to mainstream schools was introduced from September 2017, based on the profiled needs of schools.
The allocations were updated for schools with effect from September 2019, with limited readjustments being applied for at that time.
The allocations have remained in place for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 school years, with some adjustments made over the course of the model for schools which achieved developing status, or successfully appealed on the grounds of exceptional circumstances arising in their schools. Allocations are also provided for new schools which open each year.
DES Circulars 007 and 008 2019, stated that the allocations being made for 2019 would initially remain in place for a minimum of two years, following which, revised profiled allocations would be considered for schools from September 2021.
The NCSE Policy advice ‘A Proposed new Model for Allocating Teaching Resources for Students with Special Educational Needs (2014)’ on which the SET allocation model is based, recommended that ‘the additional teaching supports be left in place initially for a two-year period. As the new model becomes embedded in the system, this may be extended to three years.’
In order to minimise disruption for schools, in the current circumstances, and to provide for continuity of allocations, the Minister for Education and the Minister for Special Education and Inclusion have agreed to maintain the existing Special Education Teacher Allocations for schools for the 2021/22 school year, with re profiled allocations now due to be made from September 2022.
Additional allocations will continue to be made for new schools, schools which achieve developing status, or for exceptional circumstances arising in schools, in the interim.
The criteria for qualification for mainstream school developing school posts are set out in the Primary and Post Primary School Staffing Schedule for the 2021/22 school year.
Schools who qualify for additional mainstream developing school posts in accordance with these criteria also qualify for additional Special Education Teaching Allocations to take account of this developing status.
It is also acknowledged that there are some circumstances, which may arise in schools, which fall outside the allocations for developing school status.
These relate to exceptional or emergency circumstances which could not have been anticipated e.g. where the school profile changes very significantly, or where other exceptional circumstances have arisen in a school and which may require a review of schools capacity to provide additional teaching support for all pupils who need it in the school, or of their utilisation of their allocations.
A process is available where schools can seek a review of their allocations by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), including the utilisation of their allocations, in circumstances where a school considers that very exceptional circumstances have arisen subsequent to the development of the profile.
If a school wishes to make an exceptional needs review, they may do so at the following link: https://ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Primary-Schools-Review-Application-2020.doc
Schools Building Projects
Questions (555)
Paul Donnelly
Question:555. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the building of a new school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21482/21]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question will be relocating to its permanent location on the site of an existing post primary school for the forthcoming school year. The site is in the ownership of Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDETB), who is also patron of both schools.
DDETB has appointed a Design Team to oversee the works required to the school building to facilitate the special school’s occupancy of a section of the building. This project is phase one of a two phase development. The planning work associated with phase two will commence shortly and will include an extension to provide additional accommodation to facilitate the school’s future growth.
Autism Support Services
Questions (556)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:556. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education the position regarding primary school places for children with additional needs in the Dublin 12 area; the steps each school in Dublin 12 has taken or will take to ensure that in September 2021 there will be sufficient spaces in the schools for ASD classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21494/21]
View answerWritten answers
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
This year, over 20% of the total Education budget or €2bn will be invested in supporting children with special educational needs. As a result, the numbers of special education teachers, SNAs and special class and school places are at unprecedented levels.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and special school places nationally, to meet identified need. This process is ongoing. Through better planning at both national and local level, it is my objective that specialist education places should come on stream to meet emerging demand on a timely basis. However, the active collaboration of school communities is essential in this regard.
It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a specialised provision and where sanctioned, a range of supports, including capital funding, is made available to the school.
Notwithstanding the extent of this investment, there are some parts of the country, including South Dublin, where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of school places.
The Deputy will be aware of the process underway in South Dublin under Section 37A of the Education Act, 1998. Statutory notices issued under the Act together with the representations received from the schools and their patrons are published on my Department’s website. As the legal process is still underway, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
Minister Foley and I also announced the establishment of a new special school (Our Lady of Hope School) in Crumlin, Dublin 12 last December. Both the NCSE and my Department are working closely with the patron and the school's management team on the practical arrangements required to progress this project as speedily as possible.
Finally, I can reassure the Deputy that the local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) continue to be available to assist and advise both schools and the parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: https://ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list .
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the type and location of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie
Departmental Contracts
Questions (557)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:557. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if background checks are carried out on contractors and consultants in relation to the school remediation works currently being conducted by companies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21496/21]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department’s approach in relation to the Schools Remediation Programme is based on a multi-disciplinary Design Team and Contractor of the appropriate scale to undertake the design and implementation of necessary remediation works within a very short timeframe.
The Department considers that the companies appointed to undertake the works have the required scale and capacity and this was the focus of any background checks referenced by the Deputy.
Good progress has been made on the Schools Remediation Programme since it was established in Q4 2018 and this has facilitated the removal of the precautionary measures that had been put in place in October 2018 in 22 schools.
Fire Safety
Questions (558)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:558. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the frequency with which school fire hydrants are tested; the steps taken to repair them if found to be non-operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21497/21]
View answerWritten answers
In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, it is the responsibility of school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. Schools are obliged to identify possible hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate safeguards in place. Individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care.
My Department issued Circular Letter 0018/2018 in March 2018 on the management of safety & health, including fire safety, in primary and post-primary schools. The circular also included links to detailed guidelines produced by the Health & Safety Authority that were developed in collaboration with the Education sector. The aim of these guidelines is to provide practical assistance to school authorities including advice and recommendations on how to implement and operate Health & Safety, including Fire Safety, management systems in schools.
Provision is built into the School Building Programme to enable schools to address urgent health and safety problems. Primary schools are given an annual allocation under the grant scheme for minor works which can be used entirely at the discretion of school management to address basic health and safety issues relating to the school infrastructure.
In addition, my Department’s Summer Works Scheme provides capital grants for small scale improvement works at primary and post-primary schools during the summer holidays.
My Department also sets-aside a contingency sum each year to deal with emergency works in primary and post-primary schools, including health and safety works. Urgently required health and safety works may be grant-aided under the Department’s Emergency Works Scheme.
Schools Data
Questions (559)
Sorca Clarke
Question:559. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of children in County Westmeath who failed to complete the leaving certificate cycle in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [21519/21]
View answerWritten answers
The data is not yet available for Junior Certificate or Leaving Certificate sits in 2020. The data for Leaving Certificate sits comes from the retention report where the entry cohort of 2013-14 is likely to sit the Leaving Certificate in 2019, but also in 2018. This entry cohort is adjusted for recorded emigration, deceased students and students who repeat based on six years of academic year data.
Junior Certificate sit data from the 2014 entry cohort onwards is adjusted but only based on three years of data, this will further change when offically reported in future retention reports.
|
County |
Entry.Year |
JC.sit.year |
LC.sit.year |
Cohort |
JCexam |
LCexam |
No JC |
No LC |
JCexam % |
LCexam % |
|
Westmeath |
2016 |
2019 |
1,514 |
1,446 |
68 |
95.5 |
||||
|
Westmeath |
2015 |
2018 |
1,494 |
1,430 |
64 |
95.7 |
||||
|
Westmeath |
2014 |
2017 |
1,494 |
1,443 |
51 |
96.6 |
||||
|
Westmeath |
2013 |
2016 |
2019 |
1,422 |
1,394 |
1,292 |
28 |
130 |
98.0 |
90.9 |
|
Westmeath |
2012 |
2015 |
2018 |
1,446 |
1,402 |
1,330 |
44 |
116 |
97.0 |
92.0 |
|
Westmeath |
2011 |
2014 |
2017 |
1,382 |
1,336 |
1,236 |
46 |
146 |
96.7 |
89.4 |
|
Westmeath |
2010 |
2013 |
2016 |
1,367 |
1,319 |
1,250 |
48 |
117 |
96.5 |
91.4 |
Schools Data
Questions (560)
Sorca Clarke
Question:560. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of children in County Longford who failed to complete the leaving certificate cycle in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [21520/21]
View answerWritten answers
The data is not yet available for Junior Certificate or Leaving Certificate sits in 2020. The data for Leaving Certificate sits comes from the retention report where the entry cohort of 2013-14 is likely to sit the Leaving Certificate in 2019, but also in 2018. This entry cohort is adjusted for recorded emigration, deceased students and students who repeat based on six years of academic year data.
Junior Certificate sit data from the 2014 entry cohort onwards is adjusted but only based on three years of data, this will further change when offically reported in future retention reports.
|
County |
Entry.Year |
JC.sit.year |
LC.sit.year |
Cohort |
JCexam |
LCexam |
No JC |
No LC |
JCexam % |
LCexam % |
|
Westmeath |
2016 |
2019 |
1,514 |
1,446 |
68 |
95.5 |
||||
|
Westmeath |
2015 |
2018 |
1,494 |
1,430 |
64 |
95.7 |
||||
|
Westmeath |
2014 |
2017 |
1,494 |
1,443 |
51 |
96.6 |
||||
|
Westmeath |
2013 |
2016 |
2019 |
1,422 |
1,394 |
1,292 |
28 |
130 |
98.0 |
90.9 |
|
Westmeath |
2012 |
2015 |
2018 |
1,446 |
1,402 |
1,330 |
44 |
116 |
97.0 |
92.0 |
|
Westmeath |
2011 |
2014 |
2017 |
1,382 |
1,336 |
1,236 |
46 |
146 |
96.7 |
89.4 |
|
Westmeath |
2010 |
2013 |
2016 |
1,367 |
1,319 |
1,250 |
48 |
117 |
96.5 |
91.4 |
Schools Data
Questions (561)
Sorca Clarke
Question:561. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of children in County Westmeath who failed to complete the junior certificate cycle in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [21521/21]
View answerWritten answers
The data is not yet available for Junior Certificate or Leaving Certificate sits in 2020. The data for Leaving Certificate sits comes from the retention report where the entry cohort of 2013-14 is likely to sit the Leaving Certificate in 2019, but also in 2018. This entry cohort is adjusted for recorded emigration, deceased students and students who repeat based on six years of academic year data.
Junior Certificate sit data from the 2014 entry cohort onwards is adjusted but only based on three years of data, this will further change when offically reported in future retention reports.
|
County |
Entry.Year |
JC.sit.year |
LC.sit.year |
Cohort |
JCexam |
LCexam |
No JC |
No LC |
JCexam % |
LCexam % |
|
Westmeath |
2016 |
2019 |
1,514 |
1,446 |
68 |
95.5 |
||||
|
Westmeath |
2015 |
2018 |
1,494 |
1,430 |
64 |
95.7 |
||||
|
Westmeath |
2014 |
2017 |
1,494 |
1,443 |
51 |
96.6 |
||||
|
Westmeath |
2013 |
2016 |
2019 |
1,422 |
1,394 |
1,292 |
28 |
130 |
98.0 |
90.9 |
|
Westmeath |
2012 |
2015 |
2018 |
1,446 |
1,402 |
1,330 |
44 |
116 |
97.0 |
92.0 |
|
Westmeath |
2011 |
2014 |
2017 |
1,382 |
1,336 |
1,236 |
46 |
146 |
96.7 |
89.4 |
|
Westmeath |
2010 |
2013 |
2016 |
1,367 |
1,319 |
1,250 |
48 |
117 |
96.5 |
91.4 |
Schools Data
Questions (562)
Sorca Clarke
Question:562. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of children in County Longford who failed to complete the junior certificate cycle in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [21522/21]
View answerWritten answers
The data is not yet available for Junior Certificate or Leaving Certificate sits in 2020. The data for Leaving Certificate sits comes from the retention report where the entry cohort of 2013-14 is likely to sit the Leaving Certificate in 2019, but also in 2018. This entry cohort is adjusted for recorded emigration, deceased students and students who repeat based on six years of academic year data.
Junior Certificate sit data from the 2014 entry cohort onwards is adjusted but only based on three years of data, this will further change when offically reported in future retention reports.
|
County |
Entry.Year |
JC.sit.year |
LC.sit.year |
Cohort |
JCexam |
LCexam |
No JC |
No LC |
JCexam % |
LCexam % |
|
Westmeath |
2016 |
2019 |
1,514 |
1,446 |
68 |
95.5 |
||||
|
Westmeath |
2015 |
2018 |
1,494 |
1,430 |
64 |
95.7 |
||||
|
Westmeath |
2014 |
2017 |
1,494 |
1,443 |
51 |
96.6 |
||||
|
Westmeath |
2013 |
2016 |
2019 |
1,422 |
1,394 |
1,292 |
28 |
130 |
98.0 |
90.9 |
|
Westmeath |
2012 |
2015 |
2018 |
1,446 |
1,402 |
1,330 |
44 |
116 |
97.0 |
92.0 |
|
Westmeath |
2011 |
2014 |
2017 |
1,382 |
1,336 |
1,236 |
46 |
146 |
96.7 |
89.4 |
|
Westmeath |
2010 |
2013 |
2016 |
1,367 |
1,319 |
1,250 |
48 |
117 |
96.5 |
91.4 |
Schools Data
Questions (563)
Catherine Murphy
Question:563. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the number of primary schools which do not provide swimming lessons to students in each local authority in tabular form. [21530/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Education does not have access to the information on the number of primary schools which do not provide swimming lessons in each local authority. Whether or not swimming lessons are offered would be a matter for each individual school based on their own context.
The Physical Education (PE) curriculum at primary level contributes to children’s overall development by helping them to lead full, active and healthy lives. It provides a balanced range of activities for children through the six strands, of which Aquatics is one. The aquatics programme is concerned with gaining competence and confidence near, in, under and on water. The term ‘aquatics’ is used to include not only the teaching of swimming strokes but the provision of opportunities for enjoyment of water play and other aspects of aquatics. The concern for water safety permeates all aquatic activities. However, the PE curriculum has been developed on the understanding that facilities available to schools vary. Consequently, it offers a level of flexibility that allows each individual school to design a programme that can be delivered using the resources and supports available to it.
Currently, the primary curriculum is undergoing a period of review and redevelopment led by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. The new draft Primary Curriculum Framework was published in 2020 for public consultation. Phase one of the consultation ended in December 2020 and phase two, which will focus on consulting with school leaders, teachers, children and parents will commence in September 2021. This consultation will inform the direction of the new primary curriculum, with the completed draft framework expected to be published in Q2 2022 and the specifications for the curricular areas, including physical education, to be developed in the following years.
Schools Data
Questions (564)
Catherine Murphy
Question:564. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the number of secondary schools which do not provide swimming lessons to students in each local authority in tabular form. [21531/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Education does not have access to the information on the number of post primary schools which do not provide swimming lessons in each local authority. Whether or not swimming lessons are offered would be a matter for each individual school based on their own context.
In the new Leaving Certificate Physical Education specification learners’ physically active participation is central to teaching and learning. To enable this to happen, students learn about the different theoretical perspectives through their participation in three different physical activities. These activities are selected from six distinct physical activity areas which reflect the activities more commonly included in school physical education programmes currently. In the Physical Activity area ‘Aquatics’ students learn about water-based activities that utilise swimming and/or diving skills and techniques for performance water safety, or recreational purposes. Learners may choose one of the following activities Lifesaving, survival swimming, swimming strokes, water-polo, synchronised swimming.
However, it is recognised that the particular context of the school, the physical education programme it can facilitate and the level of community facilities, will have a bearing on the level of choice that can be managed. The physical education teacher, in consultation with the learners, will agree the range of activities that can be accommodated and supported for their physical activity project.
School Transport
Questions (565)
Martin Browne
Question:565. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education if her Department has carried out a review of the school transport schemes in view of the difficulties many parents in rural Ireland have in securing spaces due to distance limits. [21586/21]
View answerWritten answers
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 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.
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 my Department’s School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms at primary and 4.8kms at post-primary and are attending their nearest School/Education Centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/21 school year where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and will be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated. Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann allocates tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.
In October 2019, my predecessor announced a review of the School Transport Scheme with a view to ensuring funds are being spent in the most effective way to meet the objectives of the scheme.
Given the evolving situation with Covid-19 the work of the Steering Group had been delayed. However, an initial meeting of the Steering Group was recently held in order to recommence the process, which will continue over the coming period. The review is being conducted to ensure that the school transport is fit for purpose and that it serves students and their families adequately.