School Transport Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 June 2014

Thursday, 5 June 2014

Questions (44)

Michael McCarthy

Question:

44. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied with the current tendering process for school bus contracts in County Cork; if there is open and transparent competition; the way in which confidential personal information of a number of operators tendering for school bus contracts was recently disclosed and put into the public domain; the effect of same on the current tendering process; his intentions to rectify same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24045/14]

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 procurement of contractors to provide transport services under the School Transport Scheme.

I am satisfied with the current tendering process. Bus Éireann is obliged to tender all works, goods and services in line with the European Directives on public procurement. The procedure is a two-stage pre-qualification and tendering process separated out with different closing dates and times, conducted in accordance with the negotiated procedure under EU Directive 2004/17/EC.

Bus Éireann has advised that due to a clerical error in the Cork Office the names and addresses of a small number of current contractors were identified in respect of existing services which were subject to re-tendering on this occasion. This error has no bearing on the tender process, and the competition for these contracts is proceeding on schedule. The error is very much regretted by the company, which is communicating directly with the contractors concerned.