School Transport

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 February 2023

Thursday, 16 February 2023

Ceisteanna (254)

Joe McHugh

Ceist:

254. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education if she will instruct the relevant Assistant Secretary to liaise with her counterpart in the Department of Transport to organise a meeting which will include both senior Ministers and officials and Ministers of State in each Department to discuss safety issues at school bus stops/pick up points and drop off points; if consideration will be given at this meeting to introducing laws which will reduce the speed at these locations and prohibit vehicles from passing buses as students disembark from the bus; if this will be treated as a priority in light of the need for urgent safety measures in protecting the lives of students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7771/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 147,900 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 3,800 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.

The safety of children and those on board school transport vehicles is the number one priority for my Department and Bus Éireann. My Department holds regular meetings with Bus Éireann and the Road Safety Authority to discuss road safety issues of relevance to school transport. The Road Safety Authority are responsible for the Government Road Safety Strategy 2021 to 2030.

My Department also meets regularly with officials in the Department of Transport on actions relating to this strategy.