Written answer
School Transport
Fuel support payments to school transport operators were administered by Bus Éireann under contractual arrangements, with the named contractor receiving details and a direct response.
569. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of a payment made to a school transport operator for a person (details supplied). [65106/26]
Comment on this
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. As part of the operation of the scheme, Bus Éireann manages the procurement tender process and contract management arrangements to include services provided by contractors under the School Transport Scheme.
The Department of Education and Youth fully recognise the essential role played by the School Transport Operators, in facilitating transport to and from school for over 181,000 children and young people nationally, which includes the provision of transport for over 24,000 children with additional needs.
A support package of measures aimed at easing the rising cost of fuel across relevant sectors was approved by Cabinet earlier this year. The Road Transporters Support Scheme (RTSS) which comes under the remit of the Department of Transport provided targeted relief to transport operators including school transport operators. Additionally, Government also approved fuel contract variation payments to be made to operators of TFI Local Link and School Transport Scheme services.
Support for school transport services is being facilitated by Bus Éireann. These support mechanisms are being administered through contractual arrangements.
Bus Éireann has provided each contractor with communication outlining the methodology and payment period to which it related. Furthermore, a member of the Bus Éireann School Transport team has responded directly to the contractor mentioned by the Deputy.