Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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85. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the person or body to which requests for Garda vetting for transport companies that provide transport for school bus services should be sent, in view of the fact that a person cannot request clearance for themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22556/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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119. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the person or body that manages Garda vetting requests for companies that provide transport for school bus services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22644/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 119 together.

School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

Currently almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 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 is responsible for the procurement of suitable contractors to provide school bus services on its behalf.

Drivers nominated to perform services for contractors operating under contract under the School Transport Scheme, and the contractors themselves, are subject to vetting procedures arranged by Bus Éireann and conducted by the Garda Central Vetting Unit.