Written Answers Nos. 742-750
742. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Education if the bus route number D689 could be extended by approximately 167 metres to include to include four other households on this route (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39016/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of my Department. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
Routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 3.2 kilometres to travel to a pick-up point. Children are generally expected to make their own way, or to be brought to convenient pick-up points along the main route.
Bus Éireann has advised that the service in question is a mainstream service that goes to the school referred to by the Deputy. The pupils that are availing of this service are currently travelling to meet the service and the service is operating within the guidelines of the Scheme. The pick-up point has been reviewed by an inspector and it has been deemed safe.
743. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the date on which the boundary wall of a school was last surveyed in the context of its structural integrity at a location (details supplied); and if she has received an application from the ETB in respect of replacing the wall. [39017/23]
View answerMy Department has been in contact with the patron of the school referred to by the Deputy with regard to the boundary wall.
My Department has no information on when this boundary wall was last surveyed however the school confirmed that they have no plans to apply to replace this wall.
744. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if, given that neither Local Link nor the NTA has age criteria for drivers, she will provide perspectives on how Bus Éireann policy for older drivers is aligned with existing practices in other transportation services, specifically the school transport scheme for private operators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39062/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
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.
While over 90% of services are contracted locally, Bus Éireann apply stringent assessments of each individual driver on 7,000 school routes. This includes vetting and background checks.
Bus Éireann has reviewed the matter referred to by the Deputy and has advised that from the age of 70, all drivers even of private cars must complete a medical report form signed by a registered medical practitioner. This is a Road Safety Authority requirement for any licence category applied for at age 70. It exists because of the known effects of aging on eyesight, on cognitive and physical performance, the increased risk of comorbidities and the increased likelihood of drivers taking a number of medications. For public transport, and especially large capacity public transport carrying children, these risks are increased as the potential harm that could result is that much greater.
The age limit on school bus drivers was increased to 70 years a number of years ago. While Bus Éireann keep the age limits of drivers under review, they have informed my Department there is no plan to increase the age limit further at this time.
745. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education when she last spoke to the CEO and executive management team of Bus Éireann on the school transport scheme to identify opportunities for expanding and improving services, specifically on policy and strategic direction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39063/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Department officials engage with Bus Éireann staff on a daily basis with regard to the operation of the School Transport Scheme. In addition, quarterly strategic, and monthly operational meetings are held throughout the year. I also engage on a regular basis with the senior leadership team of Bus Eireann, including a meeting held on 31st August.
Officials also hold regular meetings as the need arises which include but is not limited to: planning for additional school transport places, the management of transport provision for children arriving from Ukraine, and the implications that increasing fuel costs may have on the provision of school transport services.
746. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if, in light of the shortage of bus and coach drivers and the challenges faced by Bus Éireann, she will provide insights into the potential benefits of permitting drivers aged 70 years and above to participate in school runs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39064/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
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.
While over 90% of services are contracted locally, Bus Éireann apply stringent assessments of each individual driver on 7,000 school routes. This includes vetting and background checks.
Bus Éireann has reviewed the matter referred to by the Deputy and has advised that from the age of 70, all drivers even of private cars must complete a medical report form signed by a registered medical practitioner. This is a Road Safety Authority requirement for any licence category applied for at age 70. It exists because of the known effects of aging on eyesight, on cognitive and physical performance, the increased risk of comorbidities and the increased likelihood of drivers taking a number of medications. For public transport, and especially large capacity public transport carrying children, these risks are increased as the potential harm that could result is that much greater.
The age limit on school bus drivers was increased to 70 years a number of years ago. While Bus Éireann keep the age limits of drivers under review, they have informed my Department there is no plan to increase the age limit further at this time.
747. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if her Department has engaged with the Minister for Transport and Environment, Climate and Communications who has responsibility to oversee the regulatory framework that governs public transportation, which includes oversight of Bus Éireann, to seek an amendment to Bus Éireann’s company policy excluding drivers and private operators employing those over 70 years to operate school runs, considering the current Bus Éireann crisis and school transport challenges the State-owned bus company faces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39065/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Department officials engage with Bus Éireann staff on a daily basis with regard to the operation of the School Transport Scheme. In addition, quarterly strategic, and monthly operational meetings are held throughout the year.
Officials also hold regular meetings as the need arises which include but is not limited to: planning for additional school transport places, the management of transport provision for children arriving from Ukraine, and the implications that increasing fuel costs may have on the provision of school transport services.
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.
While over 90% of services are contracted locally, Bus Éireann apply stringent assessments of each individual driver on school routes. This includes vetting and background checks.
It is Bus Éireann company policy that normal retirement age for all Bus Éireann staff is currently 66 years. However, Bus Éireann part-time school bus drivers and drivers nominated by private operators who operate service as part of the School Transport Scheme may continue to perform in the role provided they hold the requisite license and satisfy an annual medical examination until they retire at age 70. This policy and criteria is applied to all drivers who provide school transport services on behalf of Bus Éireann equally.
The age limit on school bus drivers was increased to 70 years a number of years ago. While Bus Éireann have informed the Department there is no plan to increase the age limit further at this time, the matter will continue to be kept under review.
748. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education if she will consider using a large bus for Route No. H1247-3 to allow the three children (details supplied) to travel to school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39082/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Under the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children are eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest post primary school/centre.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application and payment process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Due to the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using a random selection process.
Under the terms of the scheme, the availability of concessionary transport varies from year to year based on the capacity on the buses running on all of the various routes and the number of eligible children accommodated on each route.
Routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis.
Bus Eireann have advised that the family, to whom the Deputy refers to, are not eligible for school transport as they do not meet the distance criteria of 4.8kms. The family were not successful in receiving concessionary tickets for the 2023/24 school year.
749. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education for an update on the recent communications and application for additional accommodation by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39088/23]
View answerI wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application from the school in question under the Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme.
The purpose of my Department’s ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
The main focus of my Department’s resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics. However, my Department is working towards an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock, with particular focus on climate action goals.
In relation to the school in question, due to the nature of the site, a site visit was undertaken by the Department's Technical team in May 2023. There are particular challenges with this school site and my Department is currently assessing the options with a view to identifying the optimum solution for the school. Once this has been finalized we will be in a position to issue a proposed brief to the school.
750. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education if raac lightweight building material, has been used in the construction of any Irish schools; if so, how many, by primary and post-primary, name and location, in tabular form; what safety precautions her Department is taking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39110/23]
View answer775. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if there has been any investigation into how many if any Irish schools have been affected by RAAC concrete issues such as those in the UK; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39306/23]
View answer776. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education what safety inspection measures are taken to ensure the structural safety of school buildings from problems such as dry rot, inferior materials and corrosion, and if her Department conducts any safety audits into school buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39307/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 750, 775 and 776 together.
Under Project Ireland 2040, the Department of Education will be investing at least €5 billion over the period 2021 to 2025 to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost one million students and over 100,000 staff that learn and work in our schools every day.
While the relevant school authorities are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of each school, significant capital expenditure is made available by the Department via the Summer Works Scheme and Emergency Works Scheme to safeguard the future of schools by undertaking essential improvement works and addressing issues which have the potential to impact on health and safety. To date in 2023, over €60m in funding has been provided to schools under these schemes.
The ‘Guidelines on Managing Safety and Health in Post-Primary Schools’ and ‘Guidelines on Managing Safety, Health and Welfare in Primary Schools’ are management tools offering guidance and practical advice to schools. They assist in planning, organising and managing a safe and healthy school environment for staff, pupils and visitors.
In addition, my Department’s Planning and Building Unit is currently undertaking a comprehensive update of its Maintenance Manual for schools, which will provide detailed practical guidance on the implementation of a strong school maintenance regime. This will also guide schools on circumstances in which specialist expertise may be required and/or it may be necessary to make an application for support under the Department’s Emergency Works Scheme.
In relation specifically to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), my Department is closely monitoring the situation in the UK with regard to the identification of RAAC in schools and other buildings. Department officials have been briefed on the issue by UK counterparts. The Department is not currently aware of RAAC being used in schools here. Contacts with industry and the Irish Concrete Society have also indicated to the Department that they have no knowledge of the use of this material in Ireland.
