Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I wish to be associated with the words of sympathy extended to the families of the young girls who died following the tragic accident yesterday when coming from school. I ask the Leader to request the Minister for Education and Science to make available whatever personnel and resources there are in her and other Departments to help and support not only the bereaved families but also the wider school community and the small rural communities from which the students came. I ask that this request be urgently responded to by the Minister. Many of the students in the schools involved are only days away from starting their examinations, and for them to adjust so quickly from such a scene of trauma to an examination environment will be very difficult. Whatever can be done must be done for the wider school community, including the student body, teachers, management, parents, and all those affected.

In 1998, eight children died on their way to and from school in accidents involving school buses. There was an outcry on that occasion, with a review called for. The review took place in 1999. Its results were analysed and we were told the recommendations would be implemented. In 2001 another review was undertaken on the safety of the school bus fleet, which told us of its inadequacies. I agree with Senator Norris that to some people it may not seem appropriate that we mention this now, but when is it appropriate? The urgency existed even before 1998.

Some 150,000 students travel to school each day. Despite yesterday's terrible tragedy, and other previous such tragedies, we are lucky that there have not been more catastrophes. I implore the Leader to request that whatever the Minister for Education and Science must do regarding introducing legislation with her colleague, the Minister for Transport, should be done as a matter of urgency, so that at the start of the new academic year, this danger involving the transport of children to school would be eliminated.

I support Senator Finucane in his request for the disability issue to be revisited in a serious manner. The Leader tells us that the legislation will be taken before this House next week, which we welcome, but the Minister for State with responsibility for guiding it through has clearly stated that it his intention not to change from the resource-based Bill he is bringing forward. That is the terrible decision which is causing parents and other concerned groups to march through the streets of Dublin next Thursday.