Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

699. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 454 of 22 March 2016, wherein she stated Bus Éireann's school bus maintenance costs per kilometre, to confirm whether she has a control system in place for maintenance charges and other charges that is independent of Bus Éireann's internal control; her views on assurances received from Bus Éireann regarding school transport services given the qualified certificate in the auditor's report for the annual Bus Éireann statement of account which stated that the opinion of the auditor is not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity's internal control; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5923/16]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Bus Éireann is subject to two systems of audit inspection, both of which are independent of Bus Éireann.

In addition to the independent audit inspection undertaken by Pricewaterhousecoopers that the Deputy alluded to, CIE Group Internal Audit also conduct regular audits on Bus Éireann offices.

The Company also has an Audit Review Group in place, which includes members of the Board of Bus Éireann, providing further oversight.

The annual statement of account prepared by Bus Éireann includes an audit opinion provided by Bus Éireann's external auditors. For 2014 and prior years the opinion states that the financial information of Bus Éireann's School Transport Scheme is prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the Summary of Accounting Arrangements relating to the Transport Scheme for Primary and Post-Primary School Children dated 1 January 1975.

In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity's preparation of a School Bus Statement of Account in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity's internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the School Bus Statement of Account.

The auditors have stated that they believe that the audit evidence they have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for their audit opinion.

In light of the foregoing I am satisfied with the assurances given by Bus Éireann in this regard.

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

700. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 451 of 22 March 2016 and the high cost of maintenance per kilometre for school buses used by Bus Éireann, to clarify the meaning of additional safety measures being demanded by Bus Éireann; the additional measures in place and the reason they are not being implemented across the entire bus fleet used for school transport; if this highlights a safety concern for the children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5955/16]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Bus Éireann has advised that each school bus contractor, as an individually licensed Road Passenger Transport Operator in their own right, is responsible for the maintenance of their own vehicles and the maintenance systems that they put in place to ensure their vehicles comply in all respects with all applicable laws, including the Road Traffic Acts, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Acts, the Road Safety Authority (CVR) Act and any relevant provisions of European law.

There is a direct correlation between the strength of the maintenance system and the cost of vehicle maintenance. The additional safety measures demanded by the Company includes the procedures that it has put in place with random checks of maintenance standards and audits on Bus Éireann and Contractors buses equally. This investment in best practice vehicle maintenance improves the standards of all vehicles that are used to provide services under the School Transport Scheme nationally, and not only those operated directly by Bus Éireann.

Bus Éireann also conducts thorough six-weekly preventative maintenance checks incorporating stringent safety inspections on all of its school transport vehicles. Similarly, Contractors are contractually obligated by Bus Éireann to carry out a safety inspection of each school bus at a maximum of six-weekly intervals in line with guidelines issued by the Road Safety Authority.

Bus Éireann obliges all Contractors to sign a Contract Agreement with onerous conditions as additional safety measures. Contractors are contractually obligated, for example, to use only approved vehicles, to operate services in accordance with Bus Éireann's instructions, to pick up at approved pick up points, and to provide documentary evidence that safety critical documents such as vehicle roadworthiness certificates, motor insurance with appropriate levels of cover, and PSV Licences are kept current and up to date. Contractors must advise Bus Éireann immediately of any contemplated change of vehicle, and their drivers must be vetted, be medically fit, be licensed to drive the size of vehicle, be able to communicate in English without the aid of a translator, and must comply with Driver CPC regulations.

The contract obliges each contractor to keep themselves informed and comply with all recommendations issued by the manufacturer of each school bus as well as all guidelines and recommendations relating to the services including those issued by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Road Safety Authority.

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 and the measures put in place by Bus Éireann serve to provide assurance that all services provided under the School Transport Scheme are operated to a high standard of safety.