Private Bus Firms Absorbing The Upfront Costs Of Covid-19 Safety Provisions On Buses Used For School Transport

Wednesday, 26 August 2020 11:54

The Coach Tourism and Transport Council says private bus firms are only receiving half of the €11 million announced by the Education Minister for safety provisions

Private bus companies who are operating school buses have hit out at the level of funding made available for Covid-19 safety provisions in advance of the reopening of schools from this week

Bus firms have been offered between €4.50 and €8.50 per day for sanitisation, cleaning and the provision of PPE on their school buses despite the fact that a fund of €11 million was announced by the Education Minister in July

The Coach Tourism and Transport Council says private bus firms are only receiving half of this funding provision which they say is wholly inadequate and they've raised their concerns with Bus Eireann but to date there has been no increase in the allocation

Kearney's Bus Company is one of the largest private bus operators in Cork and provide school transport to Bus Eireann and private school transport

Speaking to RedFM News Roy Kearney says the preparations are expensive and he has had to absorb the upfront costs at a time when cash flow is strained