Written answers

Tuesday, 19 April 2005

Department of Education and Science

School Transport

9:00 pm

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 432: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his plans to replace the ageing school bus fleet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11685/05]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There are 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 school buses and contractors' vehicles. The bulk of this fleet comprises of minibuses provided by contractors, while most large buses are provided by Bus Éireann.

Since 1999, Bus Éireann has purchased a large number of vehicles as part of an ongoing school bus fleet replacement programme to continually improve the age profile and condition of their school bus fleet. In addition to this, the Bus Éireann school bus fleet currently has some 400 large capacity buses that were transferred from the general service fleet into the dedicated school transport bus fleet. Over 250 of these buses were transferred in the period 1999-2003, and they represent another valuable source of replacement buses over this period.

This investment has produced an improvement in the condition of the fleet generally and this fleet replacement programme, aimed at replacing older buses with more modern vehicles, is continuing.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 433: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if it is proposed to introduce a charge for primary school children using school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11686/05]

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 434: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to increase the charges for post-primary school children using school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11687/05]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together.

I have no plans to introduce charges for pupils attending primary schools or to increase charges for pupils attending post-primary schools.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.