Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I want to ask the Leader if she could find some time to discuss the school transport issue in view of the tragedy in Clara, and indeed, last year's tragedy in County Meath. As far back as 1999 when I chaired the Joint Committee on Education, many members recommended change in the school transport scheme as regards seat belts and on the issue of three persons occupying two seats, the policy that was in place at the time. The Government reviewed the position in 2002 and also came up with recommendations. It would now be timely to have a debate on those proposed changes. Hopefully, they will soon be put in place.

There appear to be two different regimes of school transport, the Department of Education and Science on the one hand and private contractors on the other. It is time to bring all schemes up to the same standard for the transportation of students to school.