Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. In a response to Question No. 76 of 15 February 2006 from Deputy O'Sullivan of the Labour Party, the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy de Valera, replied to the effect that buses which are hired privately are not subject to the same regulations as those operating within the Department of Education and Science scheme and that the Department does not have any influence or authority regarding the operation of such buses. Parents who make a contract with a contractor to provide a private bus are expected to ensure that the required safety standards apply, but often it is extremely difficult for a community of parents to do so as they are anxious to get a transport scheme to operate for their children. This can frequently happen when there are insufficient numbers for a full departmental scheme to apply.

I suggest that the Taoiseach initiate a review of the number of school children who are carried by privately operated buses under schemes operating outside the control of the Department of Education and Science to the Department's schools, as outlined in Deputy O'Sullivan's question in February of this year. Two parallel systems exist. One operates under the aegis of the Department of Education and Science, which seeks to implement the highest possible standards following the tragic deaths of five young people last year. In the other system, in which parents are expected to ensure that the highest standards apply, private bus operators with licences are contracted to provide a similar service to Department of Education and Science schools. Would it not be appropriate to make it mandatory that the same set of standards and safety issues should apply when private bus operators operate a private contract for parents? This should be taken for granted and parents should not be expected to know all the details of such standards or to ensure that they apply For children involved in education, the same high levels of safety standards should apply in terms of vehicles, licences, seat belts etc., regardless of whether they are transported by a scheme operated by the Department of Education and Science or by a private contracted service.

Hence, I bring to the Taoiseach's attention a recommendation made by Deputy Naughten in 1999 in the all-party report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Science dealing with educational issues, namely, that those safety standards which apply to public school transport should also apply in the case of privately contracted buses. Perhaps the Taoiseach will take these issues on board in view of the recurrence of tragic circumstances.

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