School Transport.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2004

Tuesday, 18 May 2004

Questions (177, 178)

Denis Naughten

Question:

191 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary, post-primary and special needs pupils availing of the school transport service in each year from and including 1996/97 to date for each group; the cost of the service in each year; the parental contribution in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14319/04]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The number of pupils availing of school transport services in a school year varies from time to time. Accordingly, the figures below are averages of pupils availing of the service within the years mentioned.

Year	Primary	Post-primary pupils
1997	64,000	96,000
1998	61,000	93,000
1999	59,000	86,000
2000	60,000	79,000
2001	60,000	80,000
2002	59,000	77,000
2003	60,000	78,000

The number of children with special needs availing of school transport for all of the above years is not readily available. However, between 8,000 and 9,000 children with special needs are currently availing of school transport services. Total expenditure in the same years was as follows:

	€ million
1997	49.572
1998	51.201
1999	57.978
2000	65.082
2001	77.058
2002	95.986
2003	101.734

The parental contribution was in excess of €6 million for each of the above years.

Paddy McHugh

Question:

192 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to supervision being provided on a school bus for special needs children (details supplied) in County Galway travelling to St Joseph’s special school, Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14320/04]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

My Department provides funding to special schools to assist in defraying the cost involved in engaging a suitable person to act as an escort on a school bus.

When the escort scheme was introduced some years ago, my Department was prepared to provide funding to St. Joseph's special school, Galway, for the purpose of employing escorts. However, the board of management indicated that it was unable to administer such a service.

My Department is still prepared to provide funding to the board of management of St Joseph's special school if it decides to participate in the scheme, in which case an escort can then be considered for the bus in question.