Written answers

Wednesday, 14 May 2014

Department of Education and Skills

School Transport Administration

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will correct his press release regarding the FGS Report 2009, which states that the review notes and acknowledges that Bus Éireann has clearly applied the accounting arrangements for the scheme since 1975' in view of the fact that Bus Éireann was unable to give verifiable documentation to validate charges purported to be made under paragraphs 5.1.6 to 5.1.6 showing the time spent each month by its employees specifically provided for and contrary to the 1975 agreement by apportioning the charges as stated on page 99 of FGS Report 2009 from road passenger business and in view of the fact that the report says we are unaware as to how this apportioned mechanism was undertaken in 1975 and if he will seek EU state aid approval before any further payments are made and the action he will take on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21721/14]

Photo of Ciarán CannonCiarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The press release accurately represents the content of the FGS report and does not require correction.

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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84. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 181 of 11 February 2014, regarding the maintenance charge of €23,000 per bus per year which are over five times higher than the equivalent charges for school transport in Northern Ireland, if he will immediately claw back all money paid to Bus Éireann under unlawful state aid rules in view of the fact that the 1975 agreement at paragraph 5.1.2 specifically provides for the expenditure on school buses for maintenance charges incurred and this obviously did not happen according the FGS Report 2009 and that he had no verifiable documentation that payments by him did not in fact cross subsidise maintenance workers maintaining buses that competed with private bus operators, thereby creating an unfair competitive advantage for Bus Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21732/14]

Photo of Ciarán CannonCiarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Bus Éireann has advised, and the Department is satisfied, that all charges for maintenance costs attributable to the school transport scheme have been calculated in line with the 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements.

I am satisfied that no issue of unlawful state aid and/or claw back arises. Furthermore, Bus Éireann has repeatedly confirmed that it does not cross subsidise commercial services from the operation of the School Transport Scheme.

I suggest that the comparisons referred to by the Deputy may not represent "like for like" comparisons. The Deputy might wish to submit to me relevant source material for his comparisons.

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