Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2023
309. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education how many school bus services in Galway county are currently not running due to lack of drivers or lack of buses; how many children are affected as a result of these challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42340/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 133,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the start of the 2022/2023 school year. The number of tickets issued so far has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Unfortunately in recent weeks, a number of difficulties have arisen in some localities with a small number of contracted services, including the services in the area referred to by the Deputy.
Bus Eireann are working intensively to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible.
Bus Éireann have advised that there are currently nine mainstream services and eight Special Educational Needs (SEN) services in the area referred that are currently not operating. There are two hundred and ninety mainstream pupils and thirty two SEN pupils affected.
Bus Eireann are working intensively to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible.
