Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004
317 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport his plans to review the regulations governing school buses; if he will review the 3:2 ratio on school buses; his views on the level of overcrowding on post-primary buses; if he has reviewed this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29102/04]
View answerIn 2002 my Department published a discussion paper on school bus safety. A range of possible safety related enhancements covering vehicles, passenger related measures and the road traffic environment in which school buses operate were identified in the paper. The purpose of the paper was to give the public an opportunity to put forward their views and suggestions on enhancing school bus safety.
Recent developments at EU level regarding the wearing of seat belts will remove the three for two concession in the case of school buses fitted with safety belts. In accordance with Directive 91/671, as amended by Directive 2003/20, the three for two concession for school buses fitted with seat belts will not be permissible after May 2008.
In June 2003 the European Commission published proposals to amend a number of directives relating to the type approval requirements for safety belts and restraint systems, anchorages for safety belts, and seats, their anchorages and head restraints. These proposals provide, inter alia, for the mandatory fitment of seat belts in buses and coaches, other than those used on staged-stop urban services, at manufacturing stage for the purposes of obtaining motor vehicle type approval. Under the proposals it would be a requirement for the registration, sale and entry into service of new buses and coaches, from 1 January 2006, that their safety belts and restraint systems, anchorages for safety belts, and seats, their anchorages and head restraints would conform to the technical requirements specified in the proposed amending directives.
The responses to the discussion document are being reviewed by my Department with a view to identifying the most cost effective approach to enhancing road safety for school transport, taking into account the obligations and timing of new EU requirements and proposed requirements.
My Department has been advised by the Department of Education and Science, which has overall responsibility for the administration of the school transport service, that it is satisfied, on the basis of information available from Bus Éireann, which operates school transport services on behalf of that Department, that school buses are being operated in accordance with the requirements of road traffic law.
