Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 January 2017
83. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school bus routes which have been downsized as a result of normal operations over each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3717/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are being 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.
Bus Éireann has advised that routes are organised annually to cater for the children who are eligible for school transport in advance of the new school year, also taking into account the number of children who are finished in school.
The vehicle used to operate a particular route may be changed, for example a route may be combined with another, but the capacity of the vehicle used would continue to be sufficient to cater for the number of children who are eligible for school transport.
I understand Bus Éireann do not retain the details of vehicle changes and/or circumstances where the number of seats available have been reduced. Therefore the information requested by the Deputy is not available.
