Written Answers Nos. 104-12
104. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will put the 45 year old school transport contract/agreement/arrangement out to public tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41582/13]
View answer105. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will inform the EU Commission on Competition that the 45 year old arrangement that costs the State €160 million per year is not a contract and should not be put out to public tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41583/13]
View answer106. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will publish the redacted version of the FGS report on school transport administration charges which was agreed to be published in 2011 by his Department and Bus Éireann before the court case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41584/13]
View answer107. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will publish a copy of the confidentiality agreement that was signed by FGS and Bus Éireann and referred to by him in responses to a parliamentary question of 18 September 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41585/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos 104 to 107, inclusive, together.
Matters raised by the Deputy in his questions relate to the arrangements between my Department and Bus Éireann which have been the subject of a recent Commercial High Court case taken by Student Transport Scheme Ltd against the Minister for Education and Skills. In addition, documentation, the publication of which is raised, is encompassed by various Freedom of Information requests and is being processed in that context. This case in question spanned a period of six days and the judgement delivered on 23rd October 2012 found in favour of the Minister. This detailed judgement is available on the Courts Service website. This judgment is currently the subject of a potential appeal by Student Transport Scheme Ltd to the Supreme Court and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on matters which may be raised in that context.
108. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made with regard to the acquisition of a site required for the development of a new school (details supplied) included on his Department's five year school building programme and due to go to construction in 2014-15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41615/13]
View answerI can confirm that the acquisition of a site for a new building for the school referred to by the Deputy is being progressed by my Department. Negotiations with the owners of suitable sites are ongoing. However, due to the commercially sensitive nature of these negotiations, I am not in a position to give further details at this time. However, once the acquisition of a site is finalised, a Design Team for the project will be appointed with a view to its progression to tender and construction in line with the five year plan.
109. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will support an application for emergency funding grant in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41635/13]
View answerMy Department's Planning and Building Unit has no record of receiving an application for emergency funding from the school in question to replace their windows. Should an application be received it will be assessed and the school authorities will be notified of the outcome.
110. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the potential construction and development options for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41642/13]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the school, referred to, has an application with my Department for capital funding for a replacement school building. Whilst the school, in question, has experienced some growth in pupil numbers in recent years, the school is aware that it is not located in an area which has been identified as an area of significant population growth. In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers, the delivery of new schools, together with extension projects, will be prioritised in the coming years to meet significant demographic growth. As it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of this school project at this time, an alternative option to address the schools immediate accommodation needs has been examined and is now being progressed.
In that regard, my Department has approved, under the Prefab Replacement Initiative 2012, funding for the provision of additional permanent school accommodation comprising 502m2 that will provide for four mainstream classrooms, two Special Education teaching rooms and appropriate ancillary accommodation and playspace. As there will be some enabling works required, my Department has been in on-going contact with the school authorities to resolve these issues, and the project has now been approved to proceed to the next stage and the appointment of a Design Team.
111. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if school bus transport will be provided for a child (details supplied) in County Cork; the reason an application for a concessionary bus ticket was refused by Bus Éireann in respect of this child; if he will investigate the possibility of putting a larger size bus in place to increase capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41646/13]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, is not attending her nearest national school and is therefore not eligible for school transport. Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service. Consideration cannot be given to increasing the size of a bus to cater for children who are not eligible for school transport.
112. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Education and Skills the proposed schedule and timetable for completion of the proposed new combined secondary school in Skibbereen, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41659/13]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers is among a range of schools earmarked for delivery through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) process. The PPP process forms a central part of the Government's overall economic stimulus package. This specific school was identified for inclusion in Schools Bundle 4 of the PPP process in July 2012. The procurement process for this bundle of schools has begun. At present, construction of the overall bundle is on target to commence in late 2014. Completion of construction should occur in 2016.
