Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 October 2013
16. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify comments relating to school transport and Bus Éireann that Bus Éireann makes a profit but it is not a profit in a commercial sense; if he will reveal these non-commercial profits in tabular form annually from 2005 to date in 2013. [43747/13]
View answerThe position in relation to the school transport scheme has been repeatedly set out. As I advised the Deputy yesterday, Bus Éireann, which operates school transport services on behalf of my Department, maintains a separate account for the School Transport Scheme. This account is audited each year by independent auditors and accounts in respect of the last number of years are available on my Department's website. More recently, the school transport scheme has been the subject of a Commercial High Court case taken by Student Transport Scheme Ltd against the Minister for Education and Skills. This is currently the subject of a potential appeal by Student Transport Scheme Ltd to the Supreme Court. Bus Éireann has confirmed that it does not make a profit from the school transport scheme.
