Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
634. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to defer or reduce the school bus fares payable at this time of year in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and the uncertainty if students will be returning to school for a full week this coming term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19553/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. 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.
Earlier this week I announced a comprehensive plan detailing a package of measures and resources to be provided to facilitate schools in re-opening. I also published a detailed roadmap for the full return to school. This roadmap set outs how schools will reopen for all students from the end of August. It has been developed in line with public health advice issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the Roadmap for Society and Business, and follows comprehensive and intensive engagement with all relevant stakeholders including Bus Éireann, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the National Transport Authority on the logistical considerations that arise in planning for the operation of school transport services for the reopening of our schools.
School Transport Scheme services operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department will fully operate as normal, in line with public health advice, when schools re-open for the 2020/2021 school year with the appropriate hygiene and other measures in place.
The option to make payment for transport for the 2020/2021 school year has been available since 16th June. Given the exceptional circumstances I have asked Bus Éireann to extend the closing date for payment to the 4th August 2020. Families wishing to avail of transport for the 2020/2021 year are advised to make payment by this date. Families also have the option of spreading the amount due over two payments payable in July and December.
