Vol. 516 No. 6
383 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has had discussions with CIE regarding the discontent among school bus operators who have had to carry the increase costs of diesel over the past number of months; the steps his Department is taking to assist these sub-contractors who are tied to price by contract to CIE and are unable to carry any further increased costs; and if he will intervene on the basis of possible threat to service. [8939/00]
389 Mr. M. Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, he is taking to help the private bus operators who are fulfilling contracts for school transport for Bus Éireann signed last September in view of the major rise in diesel prices. [8945/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 389 together.
The position generally is that when a school bus route is open to public tender prospective operators in the locality are requested to submit a quotation. The tender submitted will include a quotation the operator has determined as necessary to meet running costs. There is no set hourly or mileage rate. The rates applied are subject to negotiation and agreement at local level between the operator and Bus Éireann. Any such negotiation takes account of the mileage involved, size of vehicle and other relevant factors including those that may be unique to any individual operation. The negotiation of contracts with individual operators is a matter for Bus Éireann, and my Department has no direct involvement in these procedures.
