Corfu bus owners still have not been paid for pupils’ transportation in 2023
CORFU. Deputy Regional Governor Kostas Zorbas: "It is due to a bureaucratic delay. They will have been paid within a week".
As the Corfu Tourist Coach Owners Association announced, the bus owners with a contract for the transportation of primary and secondary pupils remain unpaid for the pupils' transportation in 2023.
Since 9 January, when they signed the contract, they have paid themselves the fuels, bus insurance, insurance contributions, payment of drivers and attendants and employer contributions when necessary, VAT for the invoices they have issued, MOT, service and any other costs needed for the smooth and safe transportation of pupils to and from their schools.
The bus owners warned that if they are not paid for the abovementioned period, they will not be able to start the transport services for the new school year starting 11 September.
Their requests
The following actions are required to allow services to start again:
1) Immediate payment of the invoiced routes from 9 September to 30 June.
2) Signing of a contract between the Ionian Islands Region and the contractors for the abovementioned routes since it was never signed.
3) Ensure the frequency of payments within a reasonable time for each school year as is done in other areas of the country (every 3-4 months).
With the Director of Education
There is a chance that school buses will again cause major inconvenience to the pupils' families. The Ionian Islands Director of Education Petros Aggelopoulos and the Deputy Regional Governor Kostas Zorbas will meet to discuss this issue. The Corfu Parents' Union also expressed its concern, as the school year is just around the corner.
Bureaucratic issue
Following the Deputy Regional Governor Melita Andrioti's resignation last week, the Corfu Region is now responsible for the pupils' transportation.
When asked by Enimerosi, however, the Deputy Regional Governor Kostas Zorbas said that the delay is due to a bureaucratic delay from the Finance Committee. "The payment order will be signed within the week and the contractors will be paid in 3-4 days.
The call for expressions of interest for the new school year will go out immediately by direct negotiation, until the open tender is announced," added Mr. Zorbas.
CHRISTINA GEREKOU
