Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 690: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she plans to upgrade the school buses used to service schools in County Clare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19145/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The detailed information in regard to school buses used to serve schools in County Clare is not readily available. However, all vehicles operating under the school transport scheme are required to meet the statutory regulations laid down by the Department of Transport. Where vehicles have more than eight adult seats and are more than one year old, they are required to pass that Department's annual roadworthiness test. About 20% of the vehicles used for school transport are owned by Bus Éireann and the remaining 80% are owned by private operators on contract to Bus Éireann. The average age of the Bus Éireann large capacity bus fleet is 16 years. The average age of all vehicles used is 11.5 years.

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 has some 400 large capacity buses that were transferred from the general service fleet into the dedicated school transport bus fleet. More than 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. This fleet replacement programme, aimed at replacing older buses with more modern vehicles, is continuing.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 691: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo must travel one mile to reach a pick-up point for the school bus, to be brought to a secondary school in Ballinrobe; and the further reason the previous service discontinued without prior notice or consultation with the persons involved. [19146/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A report on this case has been requested from the transport liaison officer, County Mayo VEC. The Deputy will be advised of the position when the report has been received and assessed.