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School Transport

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2020

Tuesday, 20 October 2020

Ceisteanna (363)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

363. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if students (details supplied) in County Kerry who were unable to enrol in their nearest post-primary schools will be eligible for school transport to the next nearest school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31550/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

School 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.

The Department has been engaging intensively with Bus Éireann in regard to the logistics for the safe operation of School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021 school year. The Department has also been engaging with Bus Éireann on the logistics involved with the rolling implementation of measures on post-primary services as required to provide physical distancing, in line with those required on public transport, aligned to the public health advice received shortly before schools reopened which advised that the post-primary scheme should run at 50% capacity. The implementation of 50% capacity has been put in place where possible over the last number of weeks, while Bus Éireann has been carrying out a detailed analysis of the resources required to fully implement the advice on all routes. Over the coming weeks, Bus Eireann will be implementing 50% capacity on a rolling basis as soon as it is possible to do so on each individual route.

Further detailed planning is being done through the local offices on a route by route basis to plan appropriate measures to provide the additional capacity required. As the additional capacity is rolled out, where spare capacity is created, further tickets will be allocated to those children eligible for the scheme who have paid late and for other applicants seeking concessionary tickets.

Bus Éireann has confirmed that the family referred to by the Deputy reside 29.2km from their nearest school and school of attendance and that an application for transport was not received within the prescribed application process timelines. However, arising from spare capacity created through the implementation of social distancing and an additional bus being added to the route, Bus Éireann has confirmed that the children can now be accommodated. Bus Éireann has confirmed that the service is commencing with effect from Monday 19/10/2020 and the family has been advised.

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