Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 4

Written Answers. - School Transport.

Jim Higgins

Question:

138 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Education and Science the maintenance record of a school bus (details supplied); if he has satisfied himself as to the road worthiness of the vehicle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21051/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The latest information available to my Department regarding the maintenance record of the vehicle in question since 1998 is given in the following statement. The narrow country roads and pot-holed terrain, over which school buses typically travel, subject the coaches to considerable structural stress, which is a contributory factor in their failure rate. When the bus was off the road, for any reason, other arrangements were made to ensure that the service operated. This vehicle was included in a programmed schedule of preventative maintenance procedures, designed to keep these occurrences to a minimum.

The question of upgrading the school bus fleet is primarily a matter for Bus Éireann and the private contractors who provide a high proportion of the school bus fleet. As part of its ongoing policy of improving the age and condition of the school bus fleet, Bus Éireann has arrangements in train to purchase more modern vehicles for school transport purposes with an emphasis on replacing the oldest buses in the fleet. In addition, more modern vehicles are being introduced into the school bus fleet on a phased basis as new buses are being introduced on road passenger services. My Department is awaiting details from Bus Éireann of the timescale for the allocation of these more modern vehicles and the implication for the replacement of the vehicle in question. These initiatives will result in a further general improvement in the age and condition of this fleet.

Maintenance Record –

Vehicle Registration Number 81 D 1577

Roadside Repairs	Garage for Repairs dueto Mechanical Failure	Docking,Servicing(Programmed)
14/01/98Heaters	21/04/98SteeringHeavy	31/03/98
29/01/98BatteriesFlat	12/09/98Interiorlights,interiorInspectionDoor	28/07/98
24/06/98Gearbox oil	09/11/98ExhaustBroken	17/12/98
07/09/98Stop ControlCable	14/12/98ExhaustSystem	26/02/99
08/09/98EntranceDoor	25/02/99No Heat	05/07/99
10/02/99Heaters	08/05/99Indicators	02/09/99
25/02/99No Heat	21/05/99Saloon Seats	17/01/00
18/06/99Water leak	10/02/00Gearbox	26/02/00
04/10/99Air pressure	23/10/00Overheating	09/00
11/02/00Gearbox OilLeak	05/01/01Gearbox	12/01/01
06/12/00Electrical	10/01/01Fuel Trouble
	04/04/01Overheating

The Department of the Environment and Local Government road worthiness test dates were 5 September 1998, 2 September 1999 and 11 October 2000.