Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2021
318. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education the reason there are three school buses operating on the Kilcommon, Upperchurch to Thurles bus route; the reason all three buses are stopping at some bus stops; the number of students who are transported on each bus; the reason this cannot be coordinated to have one bus stop at each stop; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25347/21]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 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 Schemes children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
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 2020, the Department planned 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.
Bus Eireann has confirmed that the route, to which the Deputy refers, carries 55 pupils in total, which prior to social distancing required one vehicle. Social distancing has been implemented on this route and two 55 seater’s buses are now operating on this route with 28 pupils on the initial service and 27 pupils on the social distancing service.
The initial service picks up from Shevry to Thurles and the social distancing service picks up from Cunnen’s Cross to Shevry.
Bus Éireann has also advised the third bus referred to may be a private hire bus for the area and is not operated by Bus Éireann.
