School Transport Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2017

Wednesday, 20 September 2017

Questions (215)

Seán Fleming

Question:

215. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the €160 million paid by his Department to Bus Éireann in 2017 in view of the fact that no service level agreement is in place (details supplied); his plans to put in place a service level agreement; his further plans to ensure proper governance structures are put in place and value for this expenditure is achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39090/17]

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 2016/17 school year almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.

The Summary of Accounting Arrangements relating to the Transport Scheme for Primary and Post-Primary School Children dated 1 January 1975 remains the current arrangement for payments to Bus Éireann.

My Department has financial oversight of the operation of the school transport scheme and is finalising a Service Level Agreement with Bus Éireann. This Service Level Agreement will build on existing processes in relation to the administration and operation of the Scheme.