Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 285: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she proposes to inquire into the safety of the school transport service with a view to meeting optimum safety standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20211/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The safety of children travelling on the school transport service has been top of my agenda since coming into office. I have effected a range of measures to improve the quality and safety of school transport services both in the vicinity and on school buses. In January, 2005, I launched a Warning Flashing Light Project on 22 buses in Ennis, Co. Clare. In July, 2005, Minister Hanafin and myself announced a package of measures to enhance the safety of school transport operations. The measures included: the phasing out of "3 for 2" seating on post-primary services by end December, 2005; the phasing out of "3 for 2" seating on primary services by end December, 2006; the acquisition of additional buses by Bus Éireann and the hiring in of additional private vehicles to meet the consequential capacity shortfall; and the immediate fitting of seat belts on the Bus Éireann school bus fleet and setting a target date of December, 2006 for private buses in the scheme to be fitted with approved seat belts.

To ensure ongoing safety and roadworthiness, my colleague, the Minister for Transport has requested an independent review to be carried out within Bus Éireann of the arrangements and systems in place for the management, operation and maintenance of the fleet, both owned and contracted by Bus Éireann. I understand that Minister Cullen has requested that the review be completed, as soon as possible and that a copy of the report be forwarded to him as soon as it is available. Separately, the Minister for Transport has requested the Chief Executive designate of the proposed Road Safety Authority to undertake a fundamental review of the arrangements for the compulsory periodic roadworthiness testing of goods vehicles and buses. As part of that review, the matter of Bus Éireann undertaking such roadworthiness tests on their own vehicles will be examined. Officials of my Department will liaise with the Department of Transport regarding the outcome of the review.