School Transport Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 November 2014

Wednesday, 5 November 2014

Questions (178)

John O'Mahony

Question:

178. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 263 of 5 November 2013 if she will conduct an internal inquiry and provide the reason for the decision in respect of why this information was withheld from Dáil Éireann when the previous Minister was asked if the EU Commission made a mistake when it stated that the school transport scheme was operated under contract by Bus Éireann in 2007; if the Accenture report of 2012 into centralised procurement was mistaken when it described the school transport scheme as a contract; if her Department told Accenture that the scheme was a contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42433/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 180 together.

As my predecessor clarified in his reply on Wednesday 26th February 2014, the usage of words such as "contract" in various contexts was considered in the High Court proceedings seeking an order setting aside the arrangements between my Department and Bus Éireann for the provision of national school transport services.

Given that a Supreme Court appeal is still pending it would be inappropriate for me to comment selectively on this aspect outside the appropriate legal forum.