School Transport Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 January 2014

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Questions (250)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Question:

250. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 258 of 16 January 2013, his views on whether the euro value of the contracts was wrongly withheld as such amounts should have been published in a contract award notice, in accordance with the EU standard forms regulation in the Official Journal of the EU, and it also should not have been withheld in response to a parliamentary question; the implication for his Department in terms of the failure to publish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3640/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, is responsible for the negotiation and awarding of school transport contracts to private operators. Bus Éireann has advised my Department that it does not disclose tender pricing on the basis that such details constitute commercially sensitive information. Bus Éireann is satisfied that it is in compliance with relevant EU requirements.