Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)

I extend my sympathy to the White family, to those who were injured and traumatised and to their families, friends and the community at large. While I have a number of questions I will try not to go over the ground covered by other Deputies. Do we have a problem in regard to the use of older school buses? Is the Minister concerned about the 2,500 private operators? Is there a problem in this area? My understanding is that there is a problem with some of the school buses in that they do not have safety belts. Is there a need to move from older buses to newer buses? The Minister referred to a working group in regard to the Kentstown school bus accident and measures to enhance bus safety. I note that different groups are involved, including the Department of Finance. We had a problem with old cars on the roads and the scrappage scheme was introduced. Perhaps that is one way of dealing with the problem. Such a scheme, specifically for school buses, would help bring them into this century rather than the last century. Could VRT on buses be abolished? Simple measures would eliminate and get those old buses off the road. The Minister referred to safety inspections of brakes, gears, tyres and so on. While I am aware annual inspections take place, how often do checks take place between inspections, whether by the Health and Safety Authority or other agencies, to determine whether safety measures are working?

Will the Minister expand on the statement that the Department will examine how it will proceed in establishing mandatory standards for all buses? His request that existing buses be phased out ties in with my earlier question on the possibility of removing from the roads many older buses. It is not a case of a shortage of money and, with political will, these older buses can be taken off the roads.

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