Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and I appreciate his response but he is not addressing the issue. I am asking, in a very straightforward way, if it is right that one group of people which is tendering is State-subsidised, leaving the group with an unfair advantage over private operators. In the tender document, did that group declare if it was in receipt of State funding, as it was required to do? The Department has stated that no funding was used but the funding provided goes to support the salaries of the manager and staff, who in turn support the administration of the school contracts. The question must be asked as to whether the company will employ additional drivers to deliver these services or use drivers who currently deliver its own programme.

If the latter is the case, the company has an unfair competitive edge over private operators, which cannot subsidise employees without State funding. It is wrong. The Minister of State is a fair-minded man and can see the point we are making. What is happening now is not fair or right. There must be a rule somewhere that illustrates how this is not on at all.

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