Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total proportion, in percentage and amount, of the school transport budget spent by Bus Éireann and/or his Department and vocational education committees on administration. [19611/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The overall School Transport Budget for 2011 is nearly €180 million and includes provision for the direct payment of grants and escort costs of some €21 million. No element of this budget is used to meet costs of this Department or Vocational Education Committees in relation to the school transport scheme.

The balance of €160 million is broadly divided under two broad headings. The first relates to direct costs and includes payments to contractors, drivers, fuel, maintenance, inspection etc. Payments under this heading are in the order of €142 million. The second heading relates to indirect costs and, in reality, this covers items such as pensions, insurance, IT costs, finance, property used by schools services etc. Payments under this heading in 2010 were €18.2 million and are expected to be €16.7 million in 2011. I should add that the Bus Éireann independently audited accounts for the school transport scheme are now available on my Department's website.