Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
381 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science if the report on the safety of school buses being prepared by his Department, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Bus Éireann has been completed; if he will place this report in the Oireachtas Library; the steps he proposes to take on foot of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21532/04]
View answerI take it that the Deputy is referring to the discussion document entitled Safer School Buses that was circulated in 2002 by the vehicles standards section, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which is now under the remit of the Department of Transport.
My Department liaises with the Department of Transport regarding the regulations governing safety on school buses. All vehicles operating under the school transport scheme are required to meet the statutory regulations as laid down by the Department of Transport. My Department and Bus Éireann fully comply with these regulations.
The overall operation of the school transport scheme is constantly under review to ensure that the best and safest possible service is delivered. Bus Éireann, which operates the service on behalf of my Department, places special emphasis on safety and, to this end, has a wide range of checking procedures in place to ensure a safe and reliable service which are reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure that standards are maintained.
My Department understands from the Department of Transport that a copy of the discussion document was placed in the Oireachtas Library in 2002.
