Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
786. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the number of places available under the school transport scheme in the academic year 2020-2021; and the share of capacity under the scheme operated by Bus Éireann. [31347/21]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
The purpose of the scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. All children who are eligible and who complete the application and payment process are accommodated on school transport where such services are in operation. Children who apply for transport but who are not eligible are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
In the current school year 114,167 pupils are travelling on school transport scheme services, of which 15,455 pupils (14%) are travelling on Bus Éireann vehicles and 98,467 pupils (86%) are travelling on vehicles operated by private contractors under contract to Bus Éireann for the provision of services.
