Vol. 380 No. 8
asked the Minister for Education the changes which she proposes to introduce in the school transport schemes in County Sligo; whether these changes will affect both primary and second level school transport; when it is proposed to make the changes; and whether there will be any changes in the rules regarding entitlement to transport for the pupils.
85.
asked the Minister for Education who will have responsibility for administering the new style school transport she intends to introduce in County Sligo; who will make the decisions on entitlements of pupils and disputed distances; and who will adjudicate on tenders, or otherwise allocate the school runs.
86.
asked the Minister for Education if, in the changes she is proposing for school transport in County Sligo, it is intended to replace the existing schemes with straight grants to the various schools; if it is intended to seek tenders for the existing school runs now carried out by CIE; if there will be any changes in the school runs now carried out by private operators; and if CIE will be allowed to go to tender.
87.
asked the Minister for Education in view of the changes proposed by her in school transport in County Sligo the plans she has for the school buses now in use and owned by her Department; if she will make them available to existing drivers if they can tender for work in the new scheme; and if her Department will supply any buses under the new scheme.
88.
asked the Minister for Education in view of the changes proposed in school transport in County Sligo; the plans she has for the future of the 30 or so school bus drivers in the county now employed on this work; if the school bus drivers are going to be made redundant; and, if so, the plans, if any, she has to provide a special redundancy package for them.
89.
asked the Minister for Education the total revenue accruing to CIE from the school transport schemes; the amount of this revenue made up of payment for (a) administration of the scheme and (b) the school runs; the total number of people employed as (a) school bus drivers and (b) the members of whole-time job equivalents employed by CIE on administration.
90.
asked the Minister for Education if she intends to introduce any changes in eligibility or entitlement of pupils to free/subsidised transport or fare paying transport in the pilot scheme for changes in school transport being introduced in County Sligo.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89 and 90 together.
I am at present making arrangements for the introduction from September next of pilot projects relating to the devolved administration of primary and post-primary school transport in Counties Cavan, Clare, Laois and Sligo.
The chief executive officer of the respective vocational education committees will act as directors of the projects and will be responsible for the organisation and day-to-day operation of school transport including the determination of pupil entitlement and the allocation of routes. All routes will be put to tender and of course, it will be open to Bus Éireann to tender in the normal way. It is not envisaged that grants as an alternative to transport facilities will form part of the pilot project arrangements.
No decision has yet been taken in regard to the future role of the buses owned by the Department but it will be my concern to ensure that their disposition will not confer an unfair advantage on any of the competing interests. My Department do not propose the acquisition of further buses in connection with the pilot scheme.
The total revenue accruing to Bus Éireann in 1987 from the transport schemes was £36.286 million. Of this amount £2.27 million was made up of direct administration costs and £30.205 million of running costs. Indirect administration and other costs amount to £3.811 million. The total number employed as school bus drivers was 2,359 of whom 1,631 were private contractors and 728 part-time drivers employed by Bus Éireann. The number of whole-time job equivalents employed by Bus Éireann on administration was 380.
In regard to the part-time drivers employed by Bus Éireann, I understand from Bus Éireann that it is the company's intention to issue redundancy notices in the near future. The question of the continued employment of these drivers on school transport will depend on the contracting arrangements which may be made.
I do not propose to alter the conditions of eligibility of pupils for school transport.
