Seymour Crawford
Question:76 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Education the number of children that can be allowed to travel, properly insured, on a 52 seater bus.
Written Answers. - Bus Insurance.
In order to respond to the Deputy's question, it is necessary to distinguish between vehicles used solely for school transport purposes and those which have additional wider uses.
Fifty-two seater buses used solely for school transport purposes are licensed under Article 60 of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 and the legal carrying capacity of such vehicles is specified on the actual licence issued by the Garda.
The majority of vehicles used for school transport purposes are also licensed for more general uses under Article 80 of the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicle) Regulations, 1963 as amended by Article 2 of S.I. 273 of 1967. Under these regulations, the vehicles in question, while engaged for school transport purposes, may carry 3 pupils for every authorised 2 seats. Hence, a 52 seater vehicle falling into this category may carry up to 78 school-going children.