Written answers

Thursday, 30 July 2020

Department of Education and Skills

School Transport

Photo of Christopher O'SullivanChristopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of the school transport scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18548/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019. 

The purpose of my Department's 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.

Last autumn my Department announced a review of the School Transport Scheme with a view to ensuring funds are being spent in the most effective way to meet the objectives of the scheme.  The review will build on the proposals in the Programme for Government as they relate to school transport.

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