Call for provision of school transport will have to be EU-wide because of high cost

Government will need to issue an EU-wide public market consultation for those interested in running the recently announced free transport initiatives for all school students.

Government recently announced that it will be making school transport free and supervised for all students, including ones who attend private and church school.

The Education and Employment Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Francis Fabri, was interviewed on INDEPTH by The Malta Independent’s editor-in-chief Rachel Attard.

The reason the call would need to be EU-wide, he said, is because the value estimated for the service exceeds the amount by which they are obligated to move onto a European level. The next step following that will see government choose from a number of available options according to public procurement regulations established at EU level.

Asked if this means there could be a situation where EU operators would be chosen, and not local ones, if they bring a better solution, he said that, “we do not want to rush at this stage. We want to work with everyone including Maltese operators,” he said, while adding that the process will be very transparent.

He mentioned that local operators have worked in the local context. What is important, he said, is that local operators putting themselves forward saying they want to be considered in the next phase of the administrative procedure. “We will consider everyone and won’t exclude anyone.” He said that government will then negotiate the best package, not only financially, but in terms of offering the best possible service.

He explained that the ministry had contracted Grant Thornton, who handled the market research and financial calculations, while consulting the ministry about their progress.

“They consulted a number of stakeholders, including local operators in terms of those already providing school transport. It was important for the ministry to have a 360 perspective of the real situation today, what one anticipates the situation would be with this measure implemented, and what the market can handle and can’t.”

Asked about the feedback from drivers, Fabri said that they shared their concerns and their wishes. “It seems there is interest by the local operators.”

He expressed his hope that Maltese who operate transport which operates according the standards one expects, would show interest once the process begins.

He explained that there were three estimates, and Grant Thornton came out with three proposals. When this was discussed, “our main choice was not based on cost, but was on how we can be as close as possible to what parents, administrators and other sections who took part in the consultation want.”

“The option we declared we will go for is the most costly option, €24 million.”

The full INDEPTH interview can be viewed online at www.independent.com.mt