asked the Minister for Education the number of school buses in the possession of CIE on 1 October 1983 and on 31 December 1982; the number of CIE owned buses being used to transport children to second-level schools and to national schools in 1983; and the comparative numbers for 1982.
Written Answers. - School Transport.
507.
CIE held 820 ‘medium' and ‘large' size school buses in December 1982, compared with 810 such buses in October 1983. The corresponding figures for minibuses were 57 units in 1982 and 54 in 1983. The usage factor is generally 90 per cent with a 10 per cent provision for engineers' holdings, to allow for planned maintenance and overhaul programmes.
About 75 per cent of these vehicles operate integrated services, that is, to both second level and national schools. A breakdown of the number of vehicles into those serving second level schools and those serving national schools is not available.
508.
asked the Minister for Education the passenger capacity for the small CIE school buses; and the official insured passenger cover for such buses.
509.
asked the Minister for Education the passenger capacity in a large CIE bus to transport children to second-level schools; and the number of school-children insured to travel at any given time in any one of these buses.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 508 and 509 together.
The CIE school bus fleet consists of mini-buses, ‘medium'-sized buses and ‘large' buses. The legal carrying capacity of these buses is 21, 49 and 67 pupils, respectively. As provided for in the Road Traffic Acts, CIE carry their own motor insurance and all pupils carried on CIE vehicles are fully covered.