Jackie Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will consider introducing legislation to compel bus companies to have seat belts fitted to buses, especially school buses, for safety reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17997/05]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 326: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure that all school buses have seat belts and that only two children sit in each set of seats. [18434/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 326 together.

At present, buses with a design gross weight not exceeding 3,500 kilograms, that is, minibuses, first registered since 1 January 1992 are the only buses which require to be fitted with safety belts, in which case safety belts are required for the driver and each forward facing front seat passenger. Persons occupying these seats are required to use the safety belts.

EU Directive 2003/20 requires safety belts to be used where they are fitted. Implementation of this directive will mean that the "three for two" rule will no longer apply in respect of any bus, including school buses, which are fitted with safety belts. The directive must be transposed into national law by 9 May 2006.

Separately, proposals to extend the requirement for safety belts to be fitted to all seats in all new vehicles, except for buses used on stage stop routes, have been developed at EU level. Following the approval of the proposals by the European Parliament on 25 May 2005, the way is now open for their early adoption as directives so that new buses, including school buses, being registered from a date yet to be settled, perhaps late 2007, would require to be fitted with safety belts. This will eliminate the "three for two" rule for all newly registered buses.

Notwithstanding the position arising from Directive 2003/20 and the EU proposals in relation to the fitment of safety belts to all seats in new motor vehicles, it is understood that the Minister for Education and Science is reviewing the scope to phase out the "three for two" arrangement in relation to buses used for school transport purposes.

The question of safety belts in existing school buses is being considered by the Department of Education and Science and my Department within the framework outlined above.