Vol. 462 No. 2
170 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for Education the number of school buses operating in each county in the country; the average age of each of these buses; if she has satisfied herself that they are safe, secure, road worthy, properly insured, and are proper vehicles for transporting school children in modern times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4504/96]
Approximately 2,500 vehicles, procured from Bus Éireann and the private sector, operate some 6,000 routes covering 34 million miles annually in the delivery of the school transport scheme. Details of the number of school buses operating in each county, and their average age, are not readily available.
The vehicles used in the scheme meet all statutory regulations as required by the Department of the Environment. Vehicles operated by private contractors are also subject to an annual road-worthiness check and to regular inspection to ensure that their reliability is maintained throughout the year.
