Hasty bus rebrand costs WELB £2,700

A DELAY in the implementation of the Education and Skills Authority (ESA) has resulted in the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) having to fork out £2,700 to replace logos on its fleet of school buses.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Apr 2010, 11:06 BST
Updated 15th Apr 2010, 11:28 BST

It has emerged the local education authority took its logos off buses in anticipation of a rebranding as the ESA that was supposed to go live in January.

But the refusal of the DUP to back the new authority because it was unhappy with the treatment of controlled schools means WELB is still responsible for schools and librarys in Londonderry and the wider western area. WELB now has to replace signs at a cost to the taxpayer of 2,700.

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Education Minister Caitrona Ruane advised that during 2009 there were a series of meetings between the ESA Implementation Team (ESAIT) and staff from Education and Library Boards to prepare for the Executive's agreed date for the implementation of ESA on 1st January 2010.

And "although it was agreed that rebranding could not begin until after 1st January 2010 a particular issue arose around school buses."

The Minister made the revelations in response to a query at the Stormont Assembly.

She said it had been decided to start the process of removing some existing logos as buses came in for maintenance, cleaning and refuelling.

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The Minister pointed out: "WELB removed some logos from vehicles and did not place logos on any newly acquired vehicles following this date.

"The logos will be replaced on WELB buses by mid-April and the total cost of replacement is 2,700, inclusive of associated labour costs and purchase of new logos. The WELB will pay for the replacement."