Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of difficulties facing many transport companies (details supplied); if she has plans to make changes to the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53693/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.

As part of the operation of the scheme, Bus Éireann manages the procurement tender process and contract management arrangements to include services provided by contractors under the School Transport Scheme.

The competitive process is conducted in accordance with the negotiated procedure under national and EU procurement legislation.

Bus Éireann has provided guidance on the process on its website at: www.buseireann.ie/contractors

Further queries and observations regarding the process should be addressed to: BESchooltenders@buseireann.ie

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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164. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of transporting children to and from school by taxi, by county, for each year from 2020 to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52932/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.

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.

In the current school year already almost 178,000 children and young people are being transported on a daily basis to schools throughout the country.

Of those 178,000 pupils, services facilitate over 100,000 mainstream pupils who are eligible for transport, as well as over 49,000 concessionary pupils.

The total expenditure on the scheme in 2024 was €512m.

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available, however the information will be issued directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.