School Transport Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 January 2014

Wednesday, 29 January 2014

Ceisteanna (53)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Ceist:

53. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 258 of 16 January 2013, if he will name his officials and their respective responsibilities who assisted him in answering same; the reason they made the decision to withhold the information; the entity that was commercially sensitive information and the reason for same; if he considered the implication of the definition of corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act 2010 where wrongly withholding information or making misleading statements is a crime and failing to report crime is also a criminal offence under section 19 of the Criminal Justice Act 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4520/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

As the Deputy is aware, 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. The question referred to by the Deputy related to the costs of engaging a private bus contractor for the provision of a specific service. Bus Éireann has advised my Department that it does not disclose tender pricing on the basis that such details constitute commercially sensitive information and this was the basis of my reply to the question.