Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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194. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an extra bus will be provided at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38741/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

In the 2017/18 school year over 117,000 children, including over 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.

Bus Éireann is responsible for the routing and timetabling of school transport services. Buses may operate double trips in the morning and afternoon to facilitate primary and post primary schools which have different starting and finishing times. This ensures that school transport vehicles are fully utilised in the most efficient and cost effective manner.

Bus Éireann is continuing to liaise with the school authorities of the school in question in regard to the specific issues referred to by the Deputy.