School transport price increase under investigation by competition authority

The Competition Authority (MCCCA) is investigating reports of increased school transport pricing, after education minister Evarist Bartolo said he wanted the matter investigated.

Bartolo said he had received complaints from parents whose children attend church schools, about raised fees for school transport.

“This rise in fares will neutralise the tax reductions we have parents to encourage them to use school transport instead of using private transport. I have asked for an investigation,” Bartolo said.

One of the complainants, the minister said, had received an email from the bus cooperative Coop Services, informing them of a rise in fares for the third consecutive year by €70 per child.

The parent in question said her transport costs had increased from €550 in 2014 to €650 in 2016. “This increase neutralises the fiscal incentive government announced two years ago,” she said. “The price of diesel has gone down so this increase in price is unjustified.”

Adding insult to injury, the parent’s child was being collected as early as 6:30am – usually a pretext for the same bus driver to make extra runs – and then is dropped back home at 3:30pm, when school ends at 2:30pm

The parent said it was inexcusable for Coop Services to claim they were spending more in fuel due to increased traffic congestion or because of fleet investment.