Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)

Buses that are hired privately by schools, parents' councils or other groups or individuals to carry children to and from school do not come within the terms of the school transport schemes as operated by my Department. Such arrangements are entered into exclusively by the persons concerned and, consequently, my Department has no direct involvement in or influence over the selection of the bus operators, bus drivers or vehicles used.

None the less, I would suggest that it would be appropriate for those intending to hire a bus privately to carry schoolchildren to assure themselves in advance that the bus operator, the driver and the bus itself all meet the appropriate statutory standards as laid down by the Department of Transport in respect of the operation of a public bus for hire.

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