Vol. 382 No. 3
asked the Minister for Education if she has received any representations from the Central Review Committee associated with the Programme for National Recovery in respect of the proposed privatisation of the school bus service; and the action, if any, she has taken on foot of those representations.
22.
asked the Minister for Education whether she is proceeding with her plans to introduce pilot schemes in the school transport system in Counties Cavan, Sligo, Laois and Clare from September 1988; and if there is any change from the original announcement of the scheme.
27.
asked the Minister for Education if she will make a statement on her recent discussions with the trade unions concerning plans to introduce pilot schemes in four counties for the privatisation of the school bus service; if, in the light of these discussions, it is intended to proceed with these pilot schemes; and if she will outline her plans for the future of the school bus service.
29.
asked the Minister for Education if the Government's decision to withdraw the Bus Éireann allocation for school buses in certain counties and to allocate the business to private contractors, will seriously undermine the viability of Bus Éireann; if it will be a breach of the Programme for National Recovery; and if it will result in compulsory redundancies.
35.
asked the Minister for Education if she will outline her plans for the privatisation of the school transport scheme; if this is in line with the Programme for National Recovery; if her attention has been drawn to the serious loss in revenue that will be suffered by Bus Éireann if the school bus service goes ahead in counties other than those where a pilot scheme is operating; and if she will make a statement about the future of Bus Éireann in the face of such potential losses of revenue.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2, 22, 27, 29 and 35 together.
Following recent discussions with the unions involved regarding the pilot school transport projects, I have agreed to examine all the issues involved. This examination is currently in progress and I will report to Government in the very near future.
What are the proposals for the immediate coming year in view of the fact that a number of people may wish to know in order to make their arrangements? Secondly, may I raise with the Minister the propriety of a former employee of a semi-State company that is contracting services being recruited to head up a privatised service and the implications that arise in relation to that? I am not pushing this but I am raising it as an important point. What will happen in the autumn and next year? In regard to the assurance given to the House by the Minister of State has the idea of extending the pilot schemes nationally been abandoned?
The answer to the main point raised by the Deputy is that I do not know and I cannot elaborate on it. The Deputy asked me about the arrangements for the forthcoming school year. I should like to assure him, and the House, that the transport system will be in operation in September for all children eligible for school transport.
Who will be contracting?
The Deputy asked me about a comment made by the Minister of State at my Department and I should like to tell him that the school transport system is constantly under review. When one is spending £36 million on one aspect of the education system it behoves one to keep it under the microscope and try to find ways of conveying children safely to school — that is the most important factor — and at an economic cost.
Will the Minister agree that there would need to be realistic and considerable savings before they would justify the disemployment of people who have been providing, as the Minister said, a safe and consistent service over the years?
That is what we will be doing. We hope to produce safe and realistically costed proposals of the transport of children to school and back home.
Will the Minister clarify the position in relation to Question No. 27? Have the four pilot programmes being withdrawn? Has the scheme which it was proposed to base on those projects been withdrawn?
No. The pilot schemes have not been withdrawn but are under consideration. Quite late in the day proposals were received from Bus Éireann, the chairman of the holding company and the trade unions involved about technical matters that need to be given further consideration in the light of the objectives we set ourselves. Officials from my Department and Bus Éireann are in consultation about those proposals.
Has the Minister second thoughts——
If the Deputy wishes to intervene he should rise in his place and be recognised by the Chair. I am calling Deputy Cooney.
Is it envisaged that Bus Éireann will be allowed to compete for the new privatised contracts using the yellow buses?
Yes. I had intended referring to that but it did not arise in the questions. The Deputy will be aware that more than half of the present school bus system is run by private subcontractors operating under Bus Éireann. In an altered arrangement it is anticipated that the operators of the yellow buses, Bus Éireann, will be entitled to submit tenders for the contract.
Will the Minister be seeking any consideration from Bus Éireann for the use of the yellow buses?
That matter is under consideration.
Will the Minister have second thoughts about her proposals for the areas covered by the pilot schemes?
No. Many worthwhile points have emerged following those pilot schemes and they are being examined.
Is the Minister having a change of heart?
