Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

No. I will not over-complicate the matter. The Department of Education and Science is a contracting authority. As such, it is permitted to set the standards of vehicles which it requires to deliver a particular service for it. Long before last year's accident, much work was being done to move on from three seats for two pupils and to investigate the safety belt issue. In fairness to the Department, it was already well down the road on the issue.

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