Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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999. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will arrange for a substantive reply to correspondence issued to her Department on 23 September 2015 regarding school transport, which was acknowledged by her Department - Ref: 1504723 AK - on 25 September 2015, and further acknowledged by the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, - Ref: MS 724/15 - on 28 September 2015. [38247/15]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Bus Éireann is obliged to tender all works, goods and services in line with the European Directives on public procurement, which includes school transport services performed by contractors under the School Transport Scheme.

Tenders are evaluated on the basis of the award criteria which consists of both Price and Quality of Service. The experience of the driver(s) assigned to perform the service(s) is part of this award criteria, and while previous experience with the company is taken into account Bus Éireann is not permitted to conduct a process which provides an incumbent operator with an unfair advantage.

All buses operating under the School Transport Scheme are required to have a valid annual roadworthiness test certificate. In addition, the services of internationally recognised experts in the field of vehicle maintenance systems and safety standards are engaged by Bus Éireann to conduct inspections on school buses. These inspections are designed to complement annual statutory vehicle examinations as an additional measure designed to ensure that vehicles and maintenance records are maintained to appropriate standards, consistent with RSA guidelines, in the period between annual statutory tests.

I can assure the Deputy that the safety of children travelling on the school transport service continues to be of paramount importance to my Department and Bus Éireann.