Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 285: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post primary school students who have availed of the school transport scheme in County Offaly from 2008 to date in 2011 inclusive; and if he will outline the total cost of the school transport scheme in County Offaly in each of these years. [18860/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Bus Éireann which operates the school transport schemes, on behalf of my Department, has provided the following figures in relation to your query:- In the 2008/09 school year 1,719 primary and 1,863 post primary pupils availed of school transport services in County Offaly. In 2009/10 the figures were 1,679 primary and 1,658 post primary and in 2010/11 the numbers were 1,566 primary and 1,624 post primary.

The breakdown of school transport costs on an individual County basis is not readily available; however the cost of school transport services in the Midlands region which includes Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath is approximately €13/14m per annum.