John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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139. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department stated in a court case (details supplied) that Bus Éireann does not make a profit from school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23576/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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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.

The arrangements between the Department and Bus Éireann for the provision of national school transport services were the subject of High Court proceedings and an appeal to the Supreme Court. The Courts found in favour of the Department.

The arrangements under which the school transport scheme operates are set out in a document of 1975 which provides for payment to Bus Éireann on a cost recovery basis.