Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 December 2023
192. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if her Department will increase the rate of pay for school transport escorts to a level commensurate with special needs assistants; and the reason school transport escorts continue to have to sign on for unemployment benefits when schools are on holidays. [54246/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
There is a facility within the Special Educational Needs Transport Scheme for the appointment of a School Transport Escort, where a child’s care and safety needs while on school transport are such as to require the support of a School Transport Escort.
Under the Education Act 1998, the Principal/Board of Management (“School Management Authority”) is responsible for the operation of the school and is the employer of the School Transport Escort and therefore responsible for all employment matters relating to their School Transport Escort. The Department of Education provides grant funding for the employment of the School Transport Escort and sets the rate of pay.
Building Momentum – a new public service agreement, 2021-2022 was agreed between Government and Unions in 2020 and was extended last year to run until 31 December this year. The agreement provides for a number of pay increases over the period of the agreement. This agreement only applies to public servants, subject to compliance with sectoral action plans and industrial peace provisions of the agreement. The increase does not automatically apply beyond public servants and therefore grant funded school staff such as bus escorts employed directly by schools are not comprehended by the agreement.
The School Transport Section in the Department review the rate of pay for school bus escorts, and they will continue to keep the rates under review.
