Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004
30 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are many school transport buses that, due to age, are seriously substandard; her plans to replace such buses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30534/04]
View answerThere are in the region of 3,000 vehicles in use each day providing school transport services on behalf of my Department under the school transport scheme. This fleet is made up of Bus Éireann school buses and contractors' vehicles. The bulk of this fleet comprises minibuses provided by contractors, while most large buses are provided by Bus Éireann.
Large capacity buses have a longer operational lifespan. Bus Éireann has informed my Department that the average age of the Bus Éireann school bus fleet of large capacity buses is 15.5 years, while the average age of similar large capacity contractors' vehicles is now approximately 18 years. Other categories of contractors' vehicles such as cars and minibuses have a lower average age.
Since 1999, Bus Éireann has spent over €4.5 million on purchasing vehicles as part of an ongoing school bus fleet replacement programme to continually improve the age profile and condition of their school bus fleet. In addition to this, the Bus Éireann school bus fleet has some 400 large capacity buses that were transferred from the general service fleet into the dedicated school transport bus fleet. Over 250 of these buses were transferred in the period 1999-2003, valued in the region of €5 million, and they represent another valuable source of replacement buses over this period. This investment has produced a perceptible improvement in the condition of the fleet generally.
It must be pointed out that all vehicles operating under the school transport scheme, whether operated by Bus Éireann or by private contractors, comply fully with all relevant legislation and are covered by current certificates of roadworthiness. All the operating procedures of the scheme are similarly compliant with legislation.
Safe operation of buses is ensured by rigorous inspection and maintenance procedures allied to professional driving standards, as practised by the staff of Bus Éireann and its contractors.
