Results 1,121-1,140 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: For the past number of years, the unused surplus was held by Bus Éireann. I presume there is interest accruing on that because it is held in a bank account somewhere. Is that included in the unused surplus?
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: Would that have included the interest that had accrued in recent years?
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: How does Mr. Delaney mean that there was no interest accruing on it?
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: Let me get this straight. Every year there is a surplus. In 2011, the surplus was €8.1 million. I presume that was held in a bank account somewhere. Where is the surplus held? Perhaps the Comptroller and Auditor General can assist me.
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: Okay, If I have a surplus of €8.9 million at the end of the year, I will be keeping it somewhere. It is not mine but, with the agreement of the Department, I can use it to offset some costs. If I am holding it somewhere, surely interest is accruing on it. Perhaps the Comptroller and Auditor General can help me with this point. The figure increases every year, but are we being told...
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: Where is-----
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: Would that be normal?
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: There was no agreement.
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: Is it possible to work out how much potential revenue in terms of interest accrued the State has lost as a result of this agreement?
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: That is interesting. Regarding running costs, page 54 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report contains a copy of the 1975 agreement. I am seeking clarification ahead of some of my questions. The report provides a breakdown of the running costs - maintenance, servicing, accident repairs, periodic overhauls, lubricants, tyres, fuel, etc. - as well as tax paid on the buses. Do these...
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: In the case of a contractor, I presume that it is not the only use of his or her vehicle.
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: The contractor is free to use it in other instances as well. Is it correct to assume the taxes paid on that vehicle form part of the contract? We pay for the vehicle's tyres and servicing, but the contractor can use it for more than school transport.
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: That was my question. These figures only relate to the service that is provided by-----
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: That answers that. In its investigation, the European Commission found that this scheme was not compatible with state aid rules. We disagreed. To be honest, I support that disagreement because there is a social element to this service. The Department has been engaging with the Commission since 2014 on future implementation measures. Will Mr. Ó Foghlú update us on those...
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: No penalties are involved. It was just an opinion.
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: When do we hope to reach a conclusion in the engagements?
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: I wish to address the surplus again. Paragraph 3.10 on page 27 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report reads, "Bus Éireann applied a total of €11.3 million in round sums to a category described as 'property charge'." What is that property charge? The report continues:Furthermore, non-recurrent charges applied by Bus Éireann against the unused surplus and accepted...
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: What was the total cost?
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: Is it possible to get a breakdown of the €3.4 million? Will Bus Éireann provide it to the committee?
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: What is the property charge?