Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2020
400. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the decision to cancel the tender competition for school transport services that issued on 26 February 2020 will mean a new and open application process will follow; if so, when it will be advertised; if previous tender applicants and holders of contracts will be notified directly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13945/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that it currently intends that the operating boards previously included in the Tender Competition that has now been cancelled will form part of the new tender competition for school transport services.
This process will begin at the end of 2020. The tender stage of the process will take place in the first quarter of 2021 and will be open to all applicants that qualify onto the new Qualification Panel.
