School Transport

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 October 2016

Thursday, 6 October 2016

Questions (124)

John McGuinness

Question:

124. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if pupils attending schools in Kilkenny city from Inistioge, County Kilkenny, can avail of the Bus Éireann school bus which services Inistioge rather than travel to Thomastown, Kilkenny, to link up with a private bus service; if he will engage with the local community to establish the numbers of pupils and arrange for the appropriate sized bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29113/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

During the 2015/16 school year in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.

If the Deputy wishes to forward the details of the children in question, I will have the matter examined.