Vol. 512 No. 1
73 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position on the provision of safety harnesses on school buses; if he has satisfied himself on the implementation of the rules of safety to meet European Union standards on matters such as overcrowding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25379/99]
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that an additional £3.4 million has been made available, with effect from September 1999, over two years, to extend the escort scheme to every special school transport route and to provide safety harnesses. My department has issued 585 escort grants to the management of the schools concerned.
Grant payments for safety harnesses are processed on the basis of applications from individual schools. My Department will shortly be writing again to the schools involved in the special school transport scheme to advise of the funding available for harness provision.
The loading on all school buses is determined by the relevant sections of the road traffic regulations (construction, equipment and use of vehicles) which are laid down by the Department of the Environment and Local Government. Under PSV regulations, the licensed carrying capacity of all vehicles engaged in school transport is based on a ratio of three pupils for every two adult seats. Great care is taken to ensure that loading does not exceed the maximum legal carrying capacity of the different bus types in use. Bus Éireann complies with these regulations and all other relevant safety legislation.
I should emphasise that safety on school transport is of paramount importance to my Department and Bus Éireann, who operate the scheme on behalf of my Department.
