Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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786. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of places available under the school transport scheme in the academic year 2020-2021; and the share of capacity under the scheme operated by Bus Éireann. [31347/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.

The purpose of the scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. All children who are eligible and who complete the application and payment process are accommodated on school transport where such services are in operation. Children who apply for transport but who are not eligible are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

In the current school year 114,167 pupils are travelling on school transport scheme services, of which 15,455 pupils (14%) are travelling on Bus Éireann vehicles and 98,467 pupils (86%) are travelling on vehicles operated by private contractors under contract to Bus Éireann for the provision of services.

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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787. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding allocated to the school transport scheme for hygiene measures in the academic year 2020-2021; the amount allocated to and drawn down by Bus Éireann; the amount allocated to and drawn down by private operators; her plans for excess funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31348/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.

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

My Department has engaged intensively with Bus Éireann in regard to the logistics for the safe operation of School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021 school year. Based on public health advice my Department provided for School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021 school year to fully operate, but with additional measures and hygiene requirements in place and with the rolling implementation of measures on post-primary services as required to provide physical distancing, using 50% of passenger capacity.

My Department reimburses Bus Éireann for a range of costs incurred in the operation and administration of the scheme on a cost recovery basis including costs relating to hygiene measures on all school transport services.

With regard to the cost to the school transport scheme for hygiene measures in the academic year 2020-2021, Bus Éireann has advised that the cost of these measures in 2020 was to €3.023m. This figure includes both Bus Éireann services and private contractors under contract to Bus Éireann on the School Transport Scheme. Details of the costs of these measures in 2021 will be available at the end of the current school year.