asked the Minister for Education the action, if any, she proposes to take in order to ensure that the Estimates allocation in respect of school transport will be adequate to allow the existing service to be maintained throughout 1989.
27.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport.
1.
asked the Minister for Education if she has satisfied herself that school transport arrangements will not be disrupted in the new school year in September 1989 due to the reduction of funding in the Estimates.
86.
asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the severe financial cutbacks in the provision of school transport she will assure the public that existing school transport will continue to 31 December 1989 and that there will be no increase in charges for school transport up to 31 December 1989.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 27 and 86 together.
School transport services will be maintained at their present levels during 1989 without increases in charges.
Is the Minister's confidence in that regard shared by the providers of the service and, in particular, is it shared by Bus Éireann?
The Government decision in regard to the amount of money made available to Bus Éireann for 1989 requested Bus Éireann to make provision from the overall allocation of public funding to the company for the provision of the school transport system at the same level as in 1988. The Government are confident that that can be achieved.
To clarify the matter, would the Minister accept that the cash allocation is £5.8 million less than it was last year? Could he tell the House on what basis he believes that Bus Éireann will be in a position to provide the service spending £5.8 million less during the current calendar year?
I confirm that the amount of saving in accordance with the Government decision is £5 million. It is a matter for Bus Éireann to come forward with proposals for the implementation of the services at the level of funding provided. Let me say that the Government have full confidence in the ability of Bus Éireann to do this. Bus Éireann have shown a remarkable achievement in the last couple of years in the service they have been able to provide and in the quality and reliability of that service. The Government are quite confident that this can continue even with the reduced amount of money which, as I have said, can be catered for across the board in regard to the overall subsidisation of Bus Éireann.
A final question, Deputy Birmingham. I must complete four questions within the prescribed time.
Give me about two minutes.
Deputy Birmingham, please.
I must ask the Minister if his confidence is based on discussions that he and his officials have had with the Department.
With the Department?
That they have had with Bus Éireann.
Quite clearly, Bus Éireann, as indeed everybody, will complain about their inability to operate on less money. I complain myself to the Minister in the same way. Obviously, they must live within the constraints of the Government decision. We accept that this places an additional burden on Bus Éireann who are confident that the level of services can be maintained. In addition, we have made an extra special effort this year and the Minister has asked me to come up with new, more flexible proposals in regard to special transport and transport for minorities. It is evident that through greater efficiency, greater flexibility and, indeed, a more commonsense approach to the provision of those services we can actually improve the quality of service, even with less money available.
Question No. 2.
A Cheann Comhairle, the House has been misled at this stage.
I am sorry. I call Deputy Higgins' question, No. 2. Please Deputy, resume your seat. I am in control at Question Time.
A Cheann Comhairle, the position is——
Deputy Birmingham, I must insist that you resume your seat.
I sought to make a point of order just before Question Time began and you would not give me that opportunity.
Because of the time factor involved. Deputy Birmingham, please.
The position is that I am entitled to put three questions. One has been ruled out of order.
I must insist on Deputy Birmingham resuming his seat or leaving this House.
The position is this. On a point of order——
I call Question No. 2, please. Deputy Birmingham, you are deliberately disrupting the business of the House.
I have in my hand a letter from the managing director of Bus Éireann——
The Deputy may not quote at Question Time.
I must ask the question. The Minister is misleading the House. He has deliberately misled the House.
The Deputy may not say that any Minister is deliberately misleading this House. That is tantamount to saying that he or she is a liar and that must be withdrawn forthwith.
I withdraw that, a Cheann Comhairle and——
I call Question No. 2.
——I seek your advice. I have in my hand a letter from the managing director of Bus Éireann.
I shall have to ask the Deputy to leave the House. He leaves me no alternative.
I have a letter from the managing director of Bus Éireann stating that the services cannot be provided.
Please leave the House.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 40 together.
In view of that statement—
Please leave the House, Deputy. Allow questions to proceed.
The Minister has been less than frank in his reply.
If the Deputy insists——
I ask permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment of the House.
I told the Deputy earlier that I would facilitate him in raising that matter with me.