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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2021

Thursday, 13 May 2021

Questions (114)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

114. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the measures that will be taken to enforce social distancing on school transport after reports that social distancing was not enforced on some routes prior to lockdown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1848/21]

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Written 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 the scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

My Department has engaged intensively with Bus Éireann in regard to the logistics for the safe operation of School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021 school year. Based on public health advice my Department provided 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% of passenger capacity. My officials engage on a weekly basis with public health consultants from the HSE in relation to the safe operation of schools including school transport.

If there are individual concerns about a particular service, parents/guardians are advised to contact School Transport Section of my Department or their local Bus Éireann office.

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