asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider introducing regulations to provide that all vehicles used for carrying children in the school transport service must be fitted with special markings to alert the general public that the vehicle is being used for school transport purposes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport Service.
3.
Contracts for the operation of school buses are arranged by CIE. I am aware that CIE whose own vehicles are clearly identifiable as school business, have been anxious to secure that all other vehicles, including private cars and mini-buses, should also be identifiable when, under contract, they are being used as school buses. A uniform solution for marking the range of vehicles involved has not been established, however. I will bring the Deputy's interest, which I support, to the attention of CIE, in the hope that they will be able to develop a solution as part of their contract procedure and with less restrictive scope than specific statutory provisions under the Road Traffic Act.
Did I understand the Minister to say that there was and is a regulation which demands that people providing this type of contract service to CIE, and CIE themselves, should have such markings on the vehicles used?
I am not sure if there is a regulation, but it is the desire of my Department and of CIE that such vehicles should be clearly marked.
Is the Minister aware of the continuing list of very serious accidents attributed to this type of vehicle, the most recent being a fatal accident involving a four-and-a-half year old school child in County Mayo? Will the Minister take this matter up immediately with his colleague with a view to making the markings on these buses mandatory?
I would be very happy to do anything that would prevent a repetition of what happened in the Deputy's constituency. The Deputy need not doubt that I will be pursuing this matter very actively.
I am very pleased to hear that. As most cars now have flashing lights, would the Minister make it mandatory that when school transport vehicles stop to let passengers disembark, the flashing lights will be used at the front and back of the vehicle? It should be mandatory that all buses and vehicles of all kinds would have detachable markings.
I will have that examined. However, I would not consider that sufficient because, as far as I can see, people use flashing lights when they are double parking. I would like to see something used which would be easily recognised as a warning sign that children are crossing behind the parked vehicle.
Is the Minister aware that in other countries a system operates whereby, if a school transport vehicle stops, it is mandatory on traffic in both directions to stop until such time as the school bus drives off. Would he consider using that kind of regulation?
I will look at anything that would prevent accidents and I will have that examined.