Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 475: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the need for seatbelts on bus transport; the potential cost of installing seatbelts on all school buses; the viability of such an installation; if his Department will endorse such a move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18994/05]

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 492: To ask the Minister for Transport if it is proposed to make the fitting of seatbelts in school buses and public transport buses compulsory in the interests of safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19305/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 475 and 492 together.

The European Union has developed proposals to require safety belts to be fitted to all seats in all new vehicles, except for buses used on stage stop routes. Following the approval of the proposals by the European Parliament last month, the way is now open for their early adoption as directives so that new buses, including school buses, being registered from a date to be settled, perhaps late 2007, would require to be fitted with safety belts.

The retrofitting of safety belts in existing buses is a complex issue and would have to be considered having regard to a range of factors including the age of the vehicle, the type of safety belt proposed to be fitted, and the suitability of the vehicle for modification. The question of the installing of safety belts in existing school buses is being examined by the Department of Education and Science and by my Department. Estimates of the potential costs involved would be premature at this stage. The costs associated with a retrofit programme for school buses would be a matter for the Department of Education and Science.