The way in which the government manages provisions for school transport in Ireland is to be challenged by an association of bus operators.

A formal complaint has been filed with the EU by the Coach Tourism and Transport Council (CTTC) alleging the Department of Education's contract with Bus Eireann breaks European law.

It is asking the EU to examine whether rules surrounding state aid are being breached, as it claims profits from the school transport operations are being sent to the company's commercial Expressway division.

Chief executive of the CTTC Gerry Mullins said: "The decision to complain to Europe is one we have taken reluctantly. We have urged Minister for School Transport Ciaran Cannon to bring transparency to the scheme's finances, but he has failed to do so."

The CTTC alleges Bus Eireann made a profit of 18.2 million euros last year from its school transport contracts, which are supposed to be run on a cost recovery basis only.

However, this has been denied by Mr Cannon, while Bus Eireann said in a statement reported by the Journal that there is no evidence to back up the CTTC's claims.

Written by Donal Walsh
 

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