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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Feb 1988

Vol. 377 No. 8

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport Cuts.

2.

asked the Minister for Education if she will give details of the new cuts of £2.7 million in school transport as revised by the Budget Statement of 27 January 1988 which restored £3.8 million to the provision for school transport.

A provision of £31.9 million has been made for the school transport services in 1988, as against £34.7 million in 1987.

The savings are as follows: a saving of £0.6 million in the 1987 out-turns; a reduction of £1.5 million in the amount to be paid to Bus Éireann in 1988 for the administration of the scheme; a reduction of uneconomic maintenance costs on buses to give a saving of £0.3 million and co-ordination of school closings to achieve savings on services of £0.4 million.

I would like to congratulate the Minister on listening to Members of this House who pointed out the folly of trying to take £6.5 million out of the school transport scheme. I am glad we went to the Minister for Finance and got the money back. One of the savings is on uneconomic maintenance costs. I know there is a grave problem about to arise in the school transport service as the school buses reach the end of their useful life. They are very old, some of them in their late teens, which for a bus is very old. What plans has the Minister for replacing these very old school buses in the light of the fact that there will be a cut in maintenance costs?

We have no plans for replacing school buses at present.

If the Minister has no plans for replacing the school bus fleet, how does he intend to keep the bus system going?

A programme of rationalisation is being considered at present and, as the Deputy is aware, there have been proposals for quite some time to change the system of school transport. In September, we will be proceeding with four pilot projects throughout the country so that the private sector will have an opportunity to be involved in school transport.

Will the Minister accept that many of the buses transporting children are unroadworthy, unsafe and a danger? It is a common sight to see many of those buses stranded and children awaiting lifts by other means. I did not hear what the Minister of State said in regard to the subvention to Bus Éireann but I presume it is reduced. Does this mean a withdrawal of the bus services in some areas or that parents will have to pay an increased fare for their children?

It is a gross exaggeration to say that there is a crisis in regard to bus breakdowns——

It is not an exaggeration.

CIE are to be complimented for the level of service they provide within the strict financial constraints under which they operate. I do not accept that there is a major problem with regard to bus breakdowns.

There is a major problem in that regard.

The condition of the bus fleet is a matter for CIE who have assured us that their buses are roadworthy and capable of passing the normal test required. It is significant that CIE have agreed to a reduction of £1.5 million for the administration of the scheme, not for the service. That is a significant reduction which will not have a negative impact on the service.

Has the Minister any evidence that these buses have undergone the same rigorous tests that apply to all motor vehicles over ten years of age before their licence is renewed?

CIE put their fleet through a more rigorous test than is normal for the private sector. Therefore, the CIE bus fleet is probably subject to much more rigorous testing than vehicles in the private sector.

The Minister clapped CIE on the back for reducing administration costs by £1.5 million. Is he saying that they have been charging the State £1.5 million more than they should over the last number of years for the administration of this work? The Minister also said that there had been a saving of £.4 million on school closures. Will he give details of such school closures?

If the Deputy accepts a cut of £1.5 million in administration for the same system this year, then he will have to accept that they were getting too much money for it last year.

So CIE were robbing the Department last year?

They are now prepared to do the same job for £1.5 million less.

No previous Government took them on.

Perhaps the Coalition Government were paying them more than they should have been getting. I did not refer to school closures, I referred to the co-ordination of closing times of schools to bring about a reduction in the cost of the service.

Will children be spending less time at school?

Not at all.

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