Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she plans to commission a study into the benefits of seat belt use versus compartmentalisation for primary and second level students using school buses. [19767/05]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has organised a study into the risks involved with the use of various seat belts on school buses for children of various age groups. [19762/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 124 together.

Legislation regarding the fitting and wearing of seat belts in public service vehicles including school buses is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Transport.

EU Directive 2003/20 requires seat belts to be used where they are fitted. This directive must be transposed into national law by 9 May 2006.

Separately, proposals to extend the requirement for seat belts in all new vehicles, except for city buses used in stage stop routes, have been developed at EU level. When the directive is adopted, all new school buses being registered from a future date will require to be fitted with seat belts.

The suitability of different restraint mechanisms is under active consideration by my Department in consultation with the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann.