238. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide in tabular form from the 2010 financial year to 2014, the number of eligible and separately the number of concessionary customers transported each year for these specified sub-divisions: the percentage decrease or increase in customers transported; the percentage decrease or increase in average cost per customer; whether the minimum number of ten or seven for a distinct locality applied for the tabulated years and columns showing the sums paid by the customers and her Department; the percentage saving to the Department and the percentage with separate columns for private operators and Bus Éireann services, as well as for buses and minibuses and separately for taxis transporting children with special transport needs; as part of the school transport scheme's financial years and as part of the provision of bus or taxi transport under the various schemes arranged by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43227/15]

The Deputy will be aware that school transport is a very significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on the Department's behalf. In the region of 112,500 children, including almost 10,000 children with special educational needs, are transported to school on a daily basis throughout the country.

The latest information sought by the Deputy in relation to pupil numbers, vehicles and charges is outlined below.

Research carried out in the context of the Value for Money Review of the School Transport Scheme showed that the annual unit cost per pupil for the provision of school transport was some €1,000, €950 and €7,000 for primary, post primary and children with special educational needs (excluding escorts) respectively.

Parental contributions as % of Overall Expenditure

Comparison of Pupil Numbers

Note:

In 2014/15 the drop of 3250 Primary eligible and 5106 PP eligible pupils results in a corresponding decrease in MC tickets issued. This reduction in the number of eligible pupils corresponds with the increase in the number of concessionary pupils as pupils who retained eligibility under the 'old' rules finish school and new applicants avail of concessionary transport under the rules of the new schemes.

11 February 2015

Vehicles - Bus Éireann & Contractors

Private Contractor

Withdrawal of Services Under Minimum Numbers

Source: Bus Éireann 10th November, 2015.

School Transport Scheme - 2008 v 2013

*The number of Bus Éireann school buses working each school day reduced from 537 to 427 between 2008 and 2013 (-110) which also contributed to the increase in the number of contractor vehicles

**Policy changes announced in Budget 2011 also contributed to network efficiencies (i.e. services withdrawn that fell below the minimum number threshold for service retention)