Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)

The responsibility for legislation on safety is with the Department of Transport. That is why the Department of Education and Science is in constant touch with the Department of Transport regarding school transport. In my initial reply I named two issues that we have discussed at length with the Department of Transport, namely the phasing out of three seats for two and the question of the installation of seat belts. That has been ongoing. I also referred to the independent review in Bus Éireann, to which the Deputy referred, and which is being carried on the instruction of the Minister for Transport.

Separately, the Minister, Deputy Cullen, has requested the chief executive designate of the proposed road safety authority to undertake a fundamental review of the arrangements for compulsory, periodic roadworthiness tests of goods vehicles and buses, so it is a wider issue. As part of that review, the matter of Bus Éireann undertaking such roadworthiness tests on its own vehicles will be examined.

See this speech in context