Vol. 445 No. 8
13 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education if she will set up a working committee as requested by the Federation of Transport Operators to discuss the condition of transport used in the school transport system. [240/94]
28 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to concerns about safety standards on some school buses as a result of overcrowding; if she has received representations from the Federation of Transport Operators concerning the condition of the school bus fleet; if she will establish a working committee as recommended by FOTO; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1045/94]
57 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education if she will be issuing her report in respect of the safety or otherwise of the school transport service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1039/94]
I propose taking Questions Nos. 13, 28 and 57 together.
I do not have any plans to set up a committee to discuss the condition of the transport used in the school transport system.
I can confirm that I have received representations from the Federation of Transport Operators concerning the condition of the school bus fleet.
The school transport scheme is operated and managed by Bus Éireann, on behalf of my Department. It involves the carriage of some 165,000 pupils on over 6,000 routes each day travelling a total of 34 million miles a year. There are some 2,300 vehicles employed in this operation, throughout the country.
All the vehicles involved comply with the statutory regulations laid down by the Department of the Environment, and are maintained to the highest safety standards, including the requirement to pass the annual roadworthiness test.
