asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that private operators of post-primary school transport suffered a financial loss during the period of closure of the secondary schools during the recent teachers' strike; and whether he will arrange to compensate them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport Services.
33.
The recent strike of secondary school teachers and the consequent closure of secondary schools resulted in the cessation of a number of special school bus services. Special arrangements had then to be made involving the revision of transport routes. In the revised arrangements, CIE made every effort to minimise reductions in the earnings of private operators providing school bus services under contract but it was inevitable, as is generally the case in strike situations, that some loss of earnings to those not directly involved in the dispute did take place. I regret this, but I am not in a position to make any payments by way of compensation to these operators.