Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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104. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has sent Bus Éireann a document purporting to be the unsigned affidavit of a private bus operator working for Bus Éireann in school transport, which alleges corruption in Bus Éireann in an area that is one of the 11 school transport areas, albeit not the Dundalk or Limerick areas. [45600/13]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date a document purporting to be the unsigned affidavit of a private bus operator, working for Bus Éireann in School Transport, alleging corruption in Bus Éireann in an area that is one of the 11 school transport areas but not the Dundalk area and not the Limerick area, was sent to Bus Éireann by his Department. [45601/13]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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106. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the complaints in a document purporting to be the unsigned affidavit of a private bus operator, working for Bus Éireann in School Transport, alleging corruption in Bus Éireann in an area that is one of the 11 school transport areas but not the Dundalk area and not the Limerick area are the first time these complaints have been made to Bus Éireann; if they are not the first time, the date on which they were first made; and the reason no action was taken by Bus Éireann on them at that time. [45602/13]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm if the employee of Bus Éireann from whom a document purporting to be the unsigned affidavit of a private bus operator, working for Bus Éireann in School Transport, alleging corruption in Bus Éireann in an area that is one of the 11 school transport areas but not the Dundalk area and not the Limerick area originate are still employees of Bus Éireann in the month of October 2013. [45603/13]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the assurances given to him by the CEO of Bus Éireann, in his letter dated 15 March 2012, on the non existence of bullying and bribery in the Bus Éireann section of School Transport has changed or does the CEO still hold the same view. [45604/13]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has confident in the CEO's assurance that the allegation noted in the CEO's own letter to him regarding bullying and bribery are groundless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45605/13]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 to 109, inclusive, together.

A document of the type referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 12th September 2013. This document was referred to Bus Éireann that day for investigation in accordance with the Company's own internal procedures.

I am informed by Bus Éireann that this specific complaint was not made previously. An unsubstantiated allegation was made in February 2010 alleging inducements in relation to the awarding of school bus contracts in the same office but no evidence was found, on investigation, to support this allegation. Additional information was requested from the complainant but was not forthcoming, nonetheless all staff in the office concerned were interviewed in connection with the matter at the time. No substance was found to the allegation.

Bus Éireann has advised that, on receipt of the document, an investigation was immediately instigated in accordance with the Company's own internal procedures. This is currently ongoing. My Department, as with all such cases, will be advised of the steps taken, if any, arising from this investigation. It is inappropriate for me to comment further on this matter pending the outcome of this investigation.