Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004
59 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of passengers carried on the school transport system since 1997; the moneys expended on the system since that date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30473/04]
View answerThe overall number of pupils carried on services operated by Bus Éireann during the past seven years, including children with special needs, is as follows:
|
Year |
Number |
|
1997 |
160,000 |
|
1998 |
154,000 |
|
1999 |
145,000 |
|
2000 |
139,000 |
|
2001 |
140,000 |
|
2002 |
136,000 |
|
2003 |
138,000 |
These numbers may vary from month to month. Overall expenditure on school transport for the same period is as follows:
|
Year |
€ million |
|
1997 |
49.5 |
|
1998 |
51.2 |
|
1999 |
57.9 |
|
2000 |
65.0 |
|
2001 |
77.0 |
|
2002 |
95.9 |
|
2003 |
101.7 |
The cost of improved transport services for children with special needs including grants is estimated at 30% of the overall budget. Children with special needs now account for about 6% of the overall number of pupils carried.
