Paul Bradford
Ceist:89 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the progress to date in replacing and upgrading the school transport fleet. [26808/00]
Priority Questions. - School Transport.
Bus Éireann operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department. The scheme utilises around 2,450 vehicles daily. Approximately 650 of these vehicles are supplied by Bus Éireann and the remainder by private contractors engaged by Bus Éireann. The question of the replacement of vehicles no longer considered suitable for school transport is a matter for Bus Éireann and the contractors.
The age profile and quality of vehicle in the Bus Éireann school bus fleet is being significantly improved due to the ongoing programme of fleet replacement. Bus Éireann is responsible for the safe condition of the vehicles in use and it has a wide range of checking procedures in place to ensure a safe and reliable service. All vehicles operating under the scheme must meet rigid safety standards.
Where vehicles have over eight adult seats and are more than one year old, they are required to pass Department of the Environment and Local Government tests in regard to roadworthiness. All school transport vehicles are also subject to regular inspection to ensure their reliability is maintained throughout the year. The vehicles must be kept and maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition and comply in all respects with the Road Traffic Acts.
Bus Éireann vehicles are serviced every six weeks under specified maintenance procedures to ensure that the highest safety standards are achieved. Any faults coming to the notice of Bus Éireann's maintenance staff are dealt with immediately. A large proportion of the existing Bus Éireann school bus fleet was refurbished during the summer of 1999.
Safety on school transport is of paramount importance to my Department and Bus Éireann. The company has a good and long safety record in the operation of school transport and an ongoing commitment to highlight safety in this regard.
Too many school buses are still spluttering around the countryside each morning. The condition of some of them is reminiscent of the type of bus one would see in a film about the Second World War. In his discussions with Bus Éireann, will the Minister arrange to put in place a programme to ensure the replacement of the entire school transport fleet within a reasonable period, for example, two to three years?
Regarding the maintenance checks to which the Minister referred, is he aware that different maintenance checks are carried out on school buses owned and operated by CIE from those operated privately?
All the buses must be roadworthy and safe. I would be concerned about the use of any buses that are unsafe. The age profile and quality of vehicles used in the Bus Éireann fleet is currently being significantly improved due to the ongoing programme of fleet replacement. Apart from refurbishing buses in 1999, CIE is also replacing vehicles. In addition, it is responsible for the contractors it uses and ensuring quality levels. I will raise with CIE the issue of the buses used under contracts but if the Deputy is concerned about any particular buses, I ask him to let me know and I will follow up the matter.
If I took up the Minister's invitation, unfortunately, the list would be long. Are emissions from school buses being monitored by the Department and the appropriate sections with responsibility for school transport? The level of emissions from what is in general an old school bus fleet has been raised on numerous occasions.
As I said, approximately 650 vehicles are provided directly by Bus Éireann and they are subject to regular checks under the maintenance provision. The total number of buses used per day is 2,450, which leaves approximately 1,800 buses which are supplied by the private sector. Those buses must comply with the regulations in the same way as other buses. I will put to Bus Éireann the Deputy's question about the extent to which the emissions of these vehicles are checked.
How many new buses were purchased last year for the school transport fleet?
If the Deputy tables a question on that matter, I will obtain that information for him. The buses are being replaced as part of the fleet replacement programme and I am not in a position to state how many new buses were purchased.