Dáil Éireann
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Vol. 1009 Thursday, No. 6 1 July 2021 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) 01/07/2021A00100Ceisteanna - Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 761 01/07/2021A00200Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 761 01/07/2021A00250School Transport � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 761 01/07/2021A01250School Staff � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 763 01/07/2021B00650School Facilities � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 765 01/07/2021C00500Departmental Schemes � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 767 01/07/2021D00250Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 769 01/07/2021D00300School Accommodation� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 769 01/07/2021E00150State Examinations � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 770 01/07/2021E00850School Facilities � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 772 01/07/2021F00600School Accommodation� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 774 01/07/2021G00400Legislative Measures � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 776 01/07/2021G01200School Facilities � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 777 01/07/2021H00800School Equipment� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 779 01/07/2021J00600State Examinations � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 781 01/07/2021K00300Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 783 01/07/2021K00350Employment Schemes � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 783 01/07/2021K01050Employment Schemes � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 785 01/07/2021L00600Community Employment Schemes � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 787 01/07/2021M00500Disability Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 789 01/07/2021N00200Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 790 01/07/2021N01000Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 793 01/07/2021N01100Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 793 01/07/2021O00500Pension Provisions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 795 01/07/2021P00700Social Welfare Benefits � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 797 01/07/2021Q00400Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 799 01/07/2021Q01300Proposed Legislation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 801 01/07/2021R00850Poverty Impact Assessment � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 803 01/07/2021S00500Employment Support Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 805 01/07/2021T00500Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 807 01/07/2021W00600Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 816 01/07/2021EE00100Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 825 0Future of Banking in Ireland: Statements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 868 01/07/2021MMM00200Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 897 01/07/2021MMM00400Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 898 01/07/2021MMM00500Ambulance Service� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 898 01/07/2021NNN00750Public Transport � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 901 01/07/2021OOO00550Housing Provision � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 903 01/07/2021PPP00500Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 906 DÁIL ÉIREANN Déardaoin, 1 Iúil 2021 Thursday, 1 July 2021 Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 9 a�m� Paidir. Prayer. Ceisteanna - Questions 01/07/2021A00200Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions 01/07/2021A00250School Transport 01/07/2021A003001� Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the way she will ad- dress the long-standing shortage of school transport places across the State; if she has engaged in capacity planning; and her views on whether it will be possible that each child who wants a place on a bus will receive a place� [35282/21] 01/07/2021A00400Deputy Darren O’Rourke: I ask Minister for Education how she will address the long- standing shortage of school transport places across the State, if she is engaged in capacity plan- ning, and her views on whether it will be possible that each child who wants a place in the bus will receive one� 01/07/2021A00500Minister for Education (Deputy Norma Foley): The school transport scheme is signifi- cant operation, managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department� In the current school year, more than 114,000 children, including more than 14,700 children with special educational needs, SEN, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country, at a cost of more than €224�7 million in 2020� All children who are eligible for school transport, and who complete the application and payment process on time, are accom- modated in school transport services, where such services are in operation� Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only� They may be offered seats where capacity exists and after all eligible children have been catered for. 761 Dáil Éireann The Department recently commenced a review of the school transport scheme� Following commencement of this review in February 2021, in a detailed analysis and a report conducted by the technical working group in the interim period, the steering group recently presented me with its initial interim report, a report on eligibility with an examination of issues for main- stream pupils relating to the nearest and next-nearest school� Following consideration of this report, I have approved the recommendation to maintain the scheme as it currently operates, pending the outcome of the full review, but with temporary alleviation measures to continue on post-primary transport scheme services� These temporary alleviation measures allow for post-primary pupils who are otherwise eligible for school trans- port, but who are attending their second-nearest school, who apply and pay on time, to access school transport� This will result in transport being provided for an estimated additional 1,800 post-primary pupils in the 2021-2022 school year, who otherwise would not be accommodated under the scheme� This arrangement will be in place for the coming school year pending com- pletion of the full review of the school transport scheme� The Department has engaged intensively with Bus Éireann in regard to the logistics for the safe operation of school transport services for the 2020-2021 school year� Based on public health advice, the Department provided for school transport scheme services for the 2020-2021 school year to fully operate, but with additional measures and hygiene requirements in place and with the rolling