Written answers

Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Department of Education and Skills

School Transport Tendering

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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389. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 1262 of 22 September 2015, she will provide details of the list of registration numbers of the purchased buses for years 2006 to 2015; the date of purchase; the year of manufacture of the school buses; the costs of each bus in the list; the model or type of the buses and the source of the funding of each of the buses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8269/16]

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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390. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 1262 of 22 September 2015, her views on whether the Government of the day would be failing in its obligations to Dáil Éireann under the Constitution and Standing Orders by failing to give information sought in parliamentary questions; her views on the fact that there is great concern in the private bus industry about officials from her Department withholding information on the fact that Bus Éireann is being overcompensated, thus causing damage to the natural growth of the private bus industry; her further views on whether the information was not given in her answer regarding the cost to Bus Éireann of the recently purchased school buses and did not give the source of the funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8270/16]

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 390 together.

As I indicated to the Deputy in my reply last Thursday, Bus Éireann has advised that the level of detailed information sought by the Deputy could not be compiled within the required timeframe. I have now asked Bus Éireann to include the additional detailed information now being sought in the response which will be sent directly to the Deputy.

As was stated in the previous reply referred to, Bus Éireann school transport vehicles are generally maintained within a 20 year age limit and the Company was in the process of procuring an additional 20 school buses for delivery in 2016. I can confirm that the cost of these buses, being funded from the risk reserve, is some €4.4 million.

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