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School Transport

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020

Tuesday, 14 July 2020

Ceisteanna (551, 624)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

551. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extra funding which will be provided to school bus operators due to the extra costs that will exist in providing school services from September 2020. [14884/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

624. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding put in place to compensate school transport providers for extra costs expected to be incurred on buses to meet public health requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15396/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 624 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.

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.

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