Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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395. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Bus Éireann and contractor vehicles, including whether they are large, medium, mini or taxi, operating the school transport scheme, in tabular form. [41692/16]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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396. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post-primary pupils availing of school transport in 2015 and 2016, in tabular form; and if they are eligible or concessionary. [41693/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 396 together.

School 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.

The following is a breakdown of the number of children who availed of school transport services in 2015 and 2016:-

The number and type of vehicle operating school transport services in 2016 are as follows:-