Dept spend on Covid advertising
The Department of Education has spent almost half a million euro on COVID-19 advertising. The same spend would have delivered HEPA filter devices to over 1500 classrooms across Ireland.
Apprenticeship delays
Given the urgent need for construction workers to join the workforce, I asked the Taoiseach to ensure that all apprentices would complete their training on schedule despite the considerable delays to date.
School Transport Services / Tickets
Bus Éireann Payment Portal is now open. Payment Deadline Date for 2021/22 School Year is 30 July 2021
Deadline date for payment / submitting medical card details for the 2021/22 school year is Friday, 30 July 2021.
To allow for planning of school transport services for the new school year, that are aligned to public health advice, the Family Portal will close after the payment deadline and will not re-open until 20 August 2021. It will not be possible to submit an application or payment for Primary/Post Primary transport for the new school year during this period.
You may still may make a payment following this date, but you cannot be guaranteed a seat, according to Bus Éireann.
Important Message to Medical Card Holders
Department of Education states: Unfortunately, the medical card verification system used as payment for school transport tickets is currently unavailable due to the cyberattack on the HSE systems. While this issue is outside of our control, we are working with the HSE to find a resolution as soon as possible. Bus Éireann is communicating directly with existing medical card holders in relation to processing their applications, and we have rolled forward their child’s medical card details used successfully for payment last year as payment for their 21/22 school transport ticket, where their child continues to be eligible for transport. For a large number of parents, they will have nothing further to do.
Information note relating to refunds for the unused portion of tickets following closure of schools arising from public health measures relating to Covid-19 restrictions.
Bus Éireann has commenced issuing refunds to families who are due to receive a refund for the unused portion of their ticket for the period of school closures arising from public health measures/Covid-19 restrictions in the 2020/2021 school year. Bus Éireann is managing this refund process on behalf of the Department of Education.
More than 42,000 families who paid fees for school transport relating to the 2020/21 school year are set to receive refunds. Queries should be emailed to [email protected].
Full information is available at https://www.buseireann.ie/SchoolRefunds
School Transport On-Line Application / Tickets
To use School Transport Scheme Services, pupils must be in possession of a valid ticket for travel.
School Transport Applications 2021/2022
Bus Éireann’s on-line application system for school transport is now open for the 2021/22 school year.
The closing date for School Transport Applications is Friday, 30 April, 2021.
How to Apply
Apply on-line now @ www.buseireann.ie\schooltransport
Submitting Statement of Attendance Form during the current Covid-19 Period of Restrictions
- Guide for schools: Submitting Statement of Attendance Form during the current Covid-19 Period of Restrictions
- School Transport – Statement of Attendance Form
Important Information regarding school administration issues during the current public health emergency
Schools administration during the current public health emergency
Related Links:
McNamara seeks improved ventilation in schools as Tanaiste suggests antigen tests being considered
The Taoiseach says the Government is considering the introduction of antigen testing to primary and secondary school settings in the autumn.
Leo Varadkar was responding today to a Dáil question by Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara who asked if ventilation would be improved in school buildings over the summer holidays to reduce the spread of Covid in classrooms and to negate the need for classroom windows to be kept open during the autumn and winter months.
Questioning the Tánaiste, Deputy McNamara asked, “Over the course of the summer are we going to introduce ventilation works to schools or are we going to have children returning to schools wearing coats and wearing masks in poorly ventilated buildings and freezing in the middle of an Irish winter with the windows open?”
Deputy McNamara also raised the potential for using stand-alone HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorbing) filter devices in classroom.
He added that an Expert Group on the Role of Ventilation in Reducing Transmission of COVID-19, set up by the Department of Health, said such devices “maybe useful in reducing airborne transmission in spaces with insufficient ventilation.”
In response, Leo Varadkar said the matter is under consideration by Government.
“We accept that schools will need better ventilation in September and October and the issue of CO2 monitors is part of that,” stated the Tánaiste.
He continued, “We have asked the Expert Group on Antigen Testing to advise us on applying antigen testing both to indoor hospitality and to schools when they reopen in September.”