School Transport.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2005

Tuesday, 28 June 2005

Ceisteanna (733, 734, 735, 736)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

734 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the circumstances surrounding the accident where a person fell off a school bus which was carrying pupils from a school (details supplied) in County Roscommon on 20 June 2005; the steps being taken to ensure that an independent investigation into the incident takes place; the measures being taken to ensure that such an incident is not repeated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22564/05]

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

737 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the circumstances surrounding the accident where a person fell off a school bus which was carrying pupils from a school (details supplied) in County Roscommon on 20 June 2005; the steps being taken to ensure that an independent investigation into the incident takes place; the measures being taken to ensure that such an incident is not repeated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22658/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 734 and 737 together.

Road traffic accidents are investigated, in the first instance, by the Garda Síochána. The Garda examined the bus last week and concluded that there was no malfunction with the emergency door.

My Department has requested, as a matter of urgency, a report from Bus Éireann on the findings of its inquiry into how the child came to fall out the emergency exit, and I await this at present.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

735 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the circumstances surrounding the incident where a school bus caught fire in north County Dublin on 20 June 2005; the steps being taken to ensure that an independent investigation into the incident takes place; the measures being taken to ensure that such an incident is not repeated on other similar buses; the location and routes served by such buses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22565/05]

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

738 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the circumstances surrounding the incident where a school bus caught fire in north County Dublin on 20 June 2005; the steps being taken to ensure that an independent investigation into the incident takes place; the measures being taken to ensure that such an incident is not repeated on other similar buses; the location and routes served by such buses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22659/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 735 and 738 together.

I too was shocked to hear of the fire on a school bus last week. I understand there were no students on the bus and the driver was not injured. The causes of the fire are unknown at this point but Bus Éireann are examining the remains of the bus carefully to establish how the fire happened. We know that the bus was a 1993 registered bus, that it has a roadworthiness certificate from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and that it had just undergone a service by Bus Éireann last week. We simply do not know why the fire happened yet and will not until Bus Éireann has concluded its investigation into the incident.

I understand that as a precaution, the remaining nine buses similar to the bus that caught fire were taken out of service for examination. These buses were located in Athlone, Cork and Dundalk. My Department has asked Bus Éireann for information on the cause of the fire as a matter of urgency.