Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
617. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills when guidelines regarding social distancing and so on will be published for bus companies that transport children from their homes to their schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15337/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra623. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills the discussions on public health measures, specifically the wearing of masks, that have taken place with school transport providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15395/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra625. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills the person or body with responsibility for policing the wearing of face masks on school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15397/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra626. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills if children on school transport will be required to wear face masks; the other public health measures to be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15398/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra627. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills when it will be possible for private school buses to operate at full capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15399/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 617, 623 and 625 to 627, inclusive, together.
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills.
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.
In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
I recently welcomed the publication of interim public health advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in relation to the re-opening of schools. Engagement with stakeholders on the public health advice and planning process for both primary and post-primary schools will continue over the coming weeks.
With regard to the re-opening of schools for the 2020/21 academic year, my Department is currently engaging intensively with Bus Éireann, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the National Transport Authority on the logistical considerations that arise from public health advice in planning for the reopening of schools. The operation of school transport services in September 2020 will be informed by the outcome of this planning for re-opening schools.
