Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children carried on school transport services for 2004; the cost of the service for 2004; the comparable data for 1999; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7882/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The number of children availing of school transport services in a school year varies from time to time. Accordingly, the figures below are averages of pupils availing of the service within the years mentioned. Between 8,000 and 9,000 children with special needs currently avail of the transport service and these are included in the overall figures. In 1999, the figure was 145,000 and in 2004 it was 140,000. Total expenditure for each of the years in question was €57.978 million in 1999 and €109.845 million in 2004.

In addition to rising fuel and insurance costs, a major contributory factor to the increase in transport costs in recent years has been the provision of improved transport facilities for children with special needs. The most recent figures available indicate that 30% of the budget is being expended on transport and grants for children with special needs who represent about 6% of the overall number of children carried. The cost of employing escorts for children with special needs has increased significantly in line with the growth in that service. The payments made in 2004 include an increase in the hourly rate of pay plus a once-off lump sum payment.