Parents who organise own school transport will be refunded: Norma Foley

04/08/2020 Covid-19 Minister for Education Norma Foley. Picture: Rollingnews.ie

Parents will be able to claim for the cost of alternative school transport, if their children cannot social distance, Minister for Education Norma Foley has said.

She was speaking today, after confirmation that school buses for secondary students would operate at 50% capacity.

Officials are in discussions with Bus Éireann ahead of the re-opening of schools in the next couple of weeks.

Minister Norma Foley said if parents opt for other transport options they will be refunded the cost. She said: 

"We will offer parents a facility to provide transport themselves, and we will recompense them for doing that.

"This is the Department (of Education) being pro-active (and) recognising that as we journey through Covid, we must be flexible and resilient."

School buses will only be half full for second-level pupils, after new NPHET advice. File picture

Earlier: U-turn on school bus capacity 'beyond a joke', says Labour

Getting to and from school safely is a top priority for the Education Minister, Norma Foley, according to a Cabinet colleague.

The Department of Education has made a u-turn on school transport after the most recent advice from NPHET on public transport policy.

The Department had planned for school buses to operate at full capacity, but with students wearing face-coverings.

However, it now says they will only be half full for second-level pupils, after new NPHET advice.

It is in talks with Bus Eireann about the change in plans and Further Education Minister Simon Harris said Ms Foley wants to ensure transport is safe.

Minister Harris said: "I know that Minister Foley will be working very closely with public health experts to make sure that not only is the school a safe environment for students and staff, but so is getting to and from school.

"I have just heard the news in relation to a decision to make sure that bus capacity is at a safe level and I think that is very welcome news."

However, the Labour Party is calling for the Dáil to be recalled over the decision.

Labour's education spokesman, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, said the situation is a shambles.

Mr Ó Ríordáin said: "Well, this is gone beyond a joke, this is exactly why we need the Dáil to be recalled. We need a debate in Leinster House on education, on the reopening of schools safely, school transport and on the Leaving Cert.

"The Minister is in hiding, it's not good enough, we're not trying to cause difficulty for government in opposition, all we want are answers.

"When we can't get answers, what happens is statement after statement with no ministerial follow-up, then we have u-turns."