Bus Éireann, who is my Department's agent for the operation of the school transport scheme, have advised that the incident to which the Deputy refers occurred on Thursday, 17 October 1996.
The vehicle concered is a private contractor's vehicle, which was registered in 1970. It is serviced every six to eight weeks, and is subject to regular inspection by experienced Bus Éireann personnel to ensure its reliability throughout the school year. The inspection and maintenance of tyres are a priority in these routine checks.
The Department of Environment is responsible for testing vehicles in respect of their roadworthiness. All vehicles operating under the scheme meet rigid safety standards and, where vehicles have over eight adult seats and are more than one year old, they are required to pass the Department of Environment tests in regard to roadworthiness.
Bus Éireann is justifiably proud of their safety record in operating the school transport scheme. They place special emphasis on safety and, to this end, have a wide range of checking procedures in place to ensure a safe and reliable service which are reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure that standards are maintained.
