Written answers

Tuesday, 25 September 2018

Department of Education and Skills

School Transport

Photo of Bobby AylwardBobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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197. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of eligible and concessionary customers, respectively, transported in each financial year since 2010 and to date in 2018, by sub-division in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38767/18]

Photo of John HalliganJohn 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.

The purpose of the School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

In general, children are eligible for school transport if they meet the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school. A minimum of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, is required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, within reasonable cost limits.

The information sought by the Deputy is set out below:

Total Number of Children on School Transport 2011 to end 2017/18 School Year

School Year Total Number Mainstream Special Educational Needs
2011113,000105,0008,000
2012112,000104,0008,000
2013114,000105,0009,000
2014113,000103,00010,000
2015114,000104,00010,000
2016116,000104,00012,000
2017116,500104,00012,500
End 17/18117,455104,70012,750

Details of Mainstream Eligible v Concessionary Children2011 to end 2017/18 School Year

School YearEligible ChildrenConcessionary Tickets (% is a % of Total Tickets)Total Tickets
201199,8784,8544.6%104,732
201295,1978,9498.6%104,146
201392,45412,37011.8%104,824
201484,09818,68818.2%102,786
201581,86222,20821.3%104,070
201678,91225,24224.2%104,154
201777,50026,77525.6%104,275
End 17/1877,47427,23026%104,704

The remainder of the information as requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested and my officials are requesting this information from Bus Éireann.

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