Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. She was a familiar figure in Limerick West recently with regard to the problem we had with the school bus for the secondary school in Askeaton. I am glad the matter was satisfactorily resolved for the people from the Ballybrown area in particular who were able to continue using the school bus facility. The Minister of State may recall that because of demographic changes and the educational scene in Limerick city area particularly, many of the parents felt they were being set adrift and were anxious that their children attend the school in Askeaton. The matter was satisfactorily resolved however, although I realise the Minister of State was adhering to the Department guidelines at the time. I hope a similar problem will not arise in September for the pupils attending those schools and that the Ballybrown pupils, and also the new pupils, can continue their education in the secondary school.

School transport is focused sharply in people's minds now as a result of several recent tragedies. Any of us who have travelled to America in particular will have noticed the yellow school buses which appear to be very sturdy. Some of the school buses used here are 17 or 18 years old. Following the fire on a school bus recently, which happened very quickly, one could see the flimsy structure that was left after it had been put out.

We must seriously consider modernising the school transport fleet. I realise economics dictate the number of school buses provided but there is something wrong when school buses start to break down. I raised a problem with a school bus in Galbally, which broke down frequently, on the Adjournment. That bus is 18 years old and it makes one wonder if the school bus fleet is satisfactory.

Questions have arisen over some of the buses in the fleet. Bus Éireann does an excellent job in maintaining the fleet but questions must be asked because in the recent case the bus had been serviced only recently. Bus Éireann admitted subsequently that there was an engineering fault with the bus. This issue will remain in sharp focus for many people.

There is concern also about school buses in rural locations carrying primary and secondary level children in the same bus. I would be interested to know if there has been any movement on the seat belt issue. The objective was to move in the direction of eliminating the three-for-two seat belt arrangement and there was talk of the second level institutions also. Has there been any progress with regard to the primary schools because primary and secondary students are often carried on the same bus? How does that equate in terms of modernising the bus fleet?

Private bus routes operate in many rural locations because the parents want to maintain a link with a preferred school outside the regular catchment area. In that case they pay the school fee to the bus providers on a weekly basis, usually a private provider. In that context, what is the scope with regard to the maintenance of those buses and in ensuring they conform to test standards? What is required is an audit of school buses with regard to the existing resource, mechanical deficiency and so on. The same should be done on the private side.

A special committee was set up after the tragedy in Meath a year ago but I understand that committee has met only once. Perhaps the Minister will confirm that. What has the committee achieved since then? As a result of what happened with the private bus in Offaly, the accident in Meath and the recent fire, where thankfully no one was hurt but it could have been catastrophic, people's minds are focused on the efficiency of our bus service and it behoves us to ensure we have an effective school bus service for our pupils.