Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of buses providing school transport which are fitted with seat belts; the number of school bus passengers usually sharing two seats among three; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7868/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently in the region of 3,000 vehicles in use each day providing school transport services on behalf of my Department under the school transport scheme. This fleet is made up of Bus Éireann large capacity school buses, which represent about 20% of all the vehicles used, and the remainder are contractor's vehicles, including minibuses and cars.

Under existing regulations, large capacity school buses used either by Bus Éireann or private contractors are not required to have seat belts fitted. Other vehicles such as cars and certain minibuses used for school transport are fitted with seat belts. However, figures are not available on the overall number of vehicles being utilised that may be fitted with these belts.

Legislation regarding the fitting and wearing of seat belts is a matter for the Department of Transport. In addition, the loading of all school buses is determined by the relevant sections of the Road Traffic Regulations (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) which are laid down by that Department. In accordance with those regulations, the licensed carrying capacity of all vehicles engaged in school transport is based on a ratio of three pupils for every two adult seats.

Statistics are not available on the total number of pupils who share two adult seats under the three for two seating arrangement but it is important to note that this seating arrangement is in line with the Department of Transport's regulations.