Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will clarify who holds responsibility for the safety of pupils waiting for school transport, either within the school grounds or outside; if within the school grounds, whether this is the responsibility of the school and whether in fact the school management representative bodies acknowledge this; the consultations which have taken place regarding same; and the funding which has been provided to ensure this happens. [9767/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the responsibility in any particular case will be determined by the particular circumstances of that case. However, in general where the operation of a school transport service according to timetable involves children being brought to school in the morning before normal time of commencement of school business, or children waiting at school in the afternoon after conclusion of school business, the board of management may be held liable in the event of accident to pupils during the period intervening. A board may also be held liable if an accident occurs as a result of the board undertaking supervision of children while they are walking from the vehicle to the school or vice versa.