John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on the roll-out of new buses and progress regarding the implementation of seat belts on school buses. [13447/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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In addition to the vehicles hired in by Bus Éireann from the private sector to address the capacity shortfall arising from the phasing out of the three for two seating arrangement on school buses, a programme for Bus Éireann to acquire a number of new and modern second-hand buses, also to address this issue, is well advanced. Fifty-one modern second-hand buses have been purchased and contracts have been placed for a further 20 new school buses.

An assessment is currently being carried out to determine the number of additional vehicles that may be required to address any further capacity shortfalls in the system.

Work commenced in February 2006 on the retrofitting of the Bus Éireann school bus fleet with seat belts. It is expected that this work will be completed later in the year.

My Department recently met with the associations representing private bus owners, on contract to Bus Éireann, and briefed them on the procedures to be followed in retrofitting their buses with seat belts.