Vol. 461 No. 1
158 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Education the year of manufacture and the year of purchase of all buses in the fleet, Bus Éireann and private, in use in the school transport scheme operated under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2564/96]
Approximately 2,500 vehicles, procured from Bus Éireann and the private sector, operate some 6,000 routes covering 34 million miles annually in the delivery of the school transport scheme. Details on the year of manufacture and year of purchase of all vehicles involved in the scheme are not readily available. I am satisfied, however, that all vehicles operating the scheme meet all safety standards, and those vehicles with more than eight adult seats, and more than one year old, have passed the Department of Environment tests in regard to road-worthiness.
