Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Senator Feighan is allowing me to go first because I have to be in the Chamber at 10.30 a.m. I welcome the witnesses. It is very important that the RSA has appeared before the committee. As we know, the Joint Committee on Education and Skills had a similar meeting with departmental officials and officials from Bus Éireann following the report during the summer. That report raised legitimate concerns among parents and it is only right and proper that these concerns are addressed, alleviated and removed. One of the issues raised at the time was through the freedom of information request for a letter sent by the chairperson of the RSA to Bus Éireann. While the figures quoted in the RSA's presentation today account for all buses they are not specifically for school transport. A letter was sent by the chairperson to Bus Éireann that pulled out school transport and specifically addressed the RSA's safety concerns about school buses. Is the RSA satisfied these concerns have been addressed satisfactorily? Why does the RSA not share its risk index with Bus Éireann? The witnesses have indicated it is because of GDPR. Has the RSA received advice on this regard from the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner? If so, will the witnesses share that advice?