Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 506: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason her Department has not replied to letters of 25 October and 7 December 2005 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2779/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department understands that the pupils referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied live in a closed school area. In the case of amalgamations, pupils residing in a closed school area may be deemed eligible for transport to the school of amalgamation only. My Department further understands that the pupils are not attending the amalgamated school. In such circumstances, the establishment or re-routing of a school bus service for pupils not eligible for school transport to the school of attendance is not warranted.

It is open to the families to appeal my Department's decision to the independent school transport appeals board.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 507: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the decision to refuse school transport to 49 children in the Blackwater area of County Wexford will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2791/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's school transport section is satisfied on the basis of the catchment area map held in the Department, which is the definitive map, that the children in question are not fully eligible for transport to schools in Wexford town. Furthermore, Bus Éireann has informed my Department that there are no spare seats available to facilitate the pupils in question with catchment boundary transport to Wexford town. A number of families from the Blackwater area recently appealed my Department's decision to the independent school transport appeals board. The board upheld my Department's decision in the matter.

The school transport appeals board is independent of my Department and it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in cases which have been considered by the board.

John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 508: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the training which is given to drivers of school buses employed by the vocational educational committee and other schools privately in health and safety and first aid; and the term and conditions of employment of such drivers. [2795/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is not aware of any drivers of school buses being employed by vocational education committees. If the Deputy has a specific case in mind and the details are made available, the school transport section of my Department will make inquiries in the matter. The terms and conditions of employment of any drivers engaged privately by schools would be a matter for the school authorities concerned.

Bus Éireann, which manages school transport services on my Department's behalf, has 22 inspectors who are qualified driving instructors and have taken the institute of advanced motorists course. These training inspectors are included on the Driving Instructors Register of Ireland, and undergo regular refresher training as instructors. Utilising these inspectors, Bus Éireann provides relevant training for its own school bus drivers, familiarises them with the bus they will be using, and arranges subsequent refresher courses from time to time. Bus Éireann school bus drivers are provided with detailed safety instructions and guidelines outlining what to do in the event of accidents, emergencies, and breakdowns, and a booklet is also provided detailing procedures to be followed when student misbehaviour threatens the safe operation of the service. Drivers are also provided with a mobile phone for use in the event of an accident or other emergency.

Contractors engaged by Bus Éireann to provide school transport services must use only nominated drivers who are subject to medical examination and are competent, experienced and duly licensed to drive the size of vehicle required. The driving of a contractor's school bus by any other person is strictly prohibited. They are provided with detailed operating instructions by Bus Éireann with which they are obliged to comply and are given signs to place in the front and back window of the bus to indicate to other drivers that the vehicle is a school bus. Safety instructions are also provided, and services are monitored by mobile Bus Éireann inspectors who also carry out service checks. Although the training of a contractor's driver is a matter for the contractor, a disability awareness programme was recently organised by Bus Éireann specifically for drivers of contractors' school transport services serving schools for special needs children.

Contractors are contractually obliged to comply with any regulations issued under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, and produce a safety statement, if requested by Bus Éireann.