Vol. 449 No. 1
132 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Education the largest number of children carried on any one day on the Kingscourt-Carrickmacross post-primary school buses; if her attention has been drawn to the concern of parents at the overcrowding; and if she will provide improved transport facilities for the children. [3123/95]
The services from Kingscourt to Carrickmacross post primary centre are operated by two large buses: a contractor's 53 seater, licensed to carry up to 79 pupils, and a Bus Éireann 61 seater, licensed to carry up to 91 pupils.
The highest number of pupils carried on any one day in the current school-year on these buses was 55 on the contractor's bus and 61 on the Bus Éireann bus.
Because of concerns expressed previously about the operation of these services, Bus Éireann has been closely monitoring the situation. I am assured that the vehicles in question are operating within their legal carrying capacity. Therefore, I have no plans to change the existing arrangements.
