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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Jul 1992

Adjournment Debate. - Threat of Disruption of School Transport System.

First, I wish to thank you, Sir, for affording me the opportunity of raising this issue in the House this evening. The future of school transport is a matter of grave concern not only to hundreds of thousands of parents nationwide but also to nearly 1,000 employees of Bus Éireann and to 1,600 private contractors directly involved in the operations and administration of the service.

It is timely that I raise this matter given the controversy that has arisen as a direct consequence of the Minister's desire to privatise the service. His proposals for the devolution of management and administration of the service to private contractors, local authorities or schools, boards of management is a recipe for disaster, would ultimately incur more costs for the State and would be less effective overall. It would also lead to a duplication of service and lack of standards. Many small, rural areas will be affected and many jobs put at risk.

Over the years various Governments have commissioned reports on the operation of the school bus service. In 1970 we had the Hyland report. In 1980 there were various interdepartmental reports. In the late eighties we had a pilot scheme. In August of that same year Bus Éireann were requested to pick up the tab to bring the service back under its wing. In 1990 the Departments of Education and Tourism, Transport and Communications commissioned Deloitte and Touche to produce a report. Let me briefly quote a number of the recommendations. One states that the provision of the school bus service by Bus Éireann is, in their opinion, at or near the minimum cost for the level of service provided under the present rules of the scheme. Another stated that the supervision and management of the school bus transport network is a complex but stable task and that in their opinion it is well carried out by Bus Éireann. The report also stated that Bus Eireann deliver the yellow bus element of the scheme at direct costs which are competitive with those operating in the private sector of public transport.

How can the Minister disregard the main recommendations of this report? It seems, given his decision to seek a further report, that it is his intention to continue to commission costly reports until such time as one comes up with the conditions and the recommendations that he is looking for. In view of this, is it any wonder that the trade unions representing the staff, particularly SIPTU and the TSSA, are taking a very strong line on this matter. It should be of deep concern to the Minister that the board of CIE are threatening to put the workforce directly involved on protective notice if the problems are not resolved satisfactorily.

The annual piecemeal approach to the school bus service is most frustrating to the staff and is not conducive to a continuity of service. I recommend that the Minister accept the Deloitte and Touche recommendations and meet with management and unions with a view to putting the school bus service in this country on a sound footing once and for all. There is a deep resentment in the company at the directive that Bus Eireann should not enter into commitments regarding school transport beyond the end of this year. This is totally unworkable. I would ask the Minister to withdraw it.

The State owes nearly £4.6 million to Bus Éireann for the operation of the school transport service and this is putting a grave strain on their resources. Hopefully the Minister will be able to give a commitment to have this matter resolved.

It is reported in the media that substantial increases in charges for school transport have been recommended by the Department of Education from January next. An increase of the order of £19 per pupil per term which would bring it from £21 to £40 for junior cycle pupils and from £35 to £55 for senior cycle pupils are the figures quoted. Increases of this magnitude will have a devastating effect on the families of some 164,000 school-going children who use the transport service. This is totally unacceptable and the Labour Party will be totally opposed to it.

I would ask the Minister to bring to the attention of the Minister for Education my concern that a proper service should be introduced. All the resources of the people in the Department should be called on to ensure that the best service is provided. I believe the Minister has taken the option he himself wishes, the option of privatisation. This is not the solution to this problem and I hope the Minister will take on board the views expressed here tonight and hopefully will give some good news when he is replying.

As far as the Department of Education are concerned, they expect the school transport scheme to operate normally in accordance with current procedures as from September next. These procedures are based on an agreement between the Department and Bus Éireann under which Bus Eireann act as agent for the Department in the operation of the school transport scheme. The Department establish the policies related to the scheme and it is a matter for Bus Éireann to operate the scheme within those policies.

The scheme has been operating now for 24 years. In view of the costs involved and the complexities of the arrangements necessary to cater for a wide diversity of requirements, the operation of the scheme is kept under continual review. A recent consultancy study found that on the basis of current arrangements the scheme was operated cost-efficiently by Bus Éireann. The review is continuing to determine whether any alternative arrangements could provide greater efficiency and effectiveness.

Let me stress that what is in question is a continuing review, again with the assistance of consultants. The next phase of the review is not yet started and will include consultation with concerned interests. There is no question of any decisions having been taken. Such decisions would be a matter solely for Government, following completion of the review. Such decisions, if any, will be for the future. In so far as the coming school year is concerned, I expect, as I have stated, the school transport scheme to proceed under the normal procedures and arrangements as agreed between the Department of Education and Bus Éireann.

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