Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Transport when an audit of school bus safety will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19870/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied with the situation whereby Bus Éireann carries out its own safety and maintenance works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21933/06]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that a full audit of the condition of all buses in the school fleet, including those hired from the private sector, is carried out in the wake of an unprecedented number of incidents relating to bus accidents in the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19882/06]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Transport if a full safety audit will now be put in place for all school transport vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19835/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has received the details of the audit carried out by Bus Éireann on the safety and conditions of its fleet; the action he intends to take on foot of this audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21932/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Transport if he shares the view that it is not best practice that Bus Éireann carries out its own safety checks and maintenance audits; if so, the measures he intends to enact to alter this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21902/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 97, 122, 123, 160 and 274 together.

In accordance with Directive 96/96/EC relating to compulsory periodic roadworthiness testing of vehicles, buses are liable to testing when they are 1 year old and every year thereafter. The Directive, in relation to the testing of goods vehicles and buses, is currently transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Vehicle Testing) Regulations 2004. The regulations provide that testing is carried out by testers appointed by city and county councils. The Department specifies the requirements for premises, test equipment and qualifications for testers for appointment as an authorised tester. The items to be tested, the method of testing and the reasons for failure of the test are set down in vehicle testing manuals published by the Department. Supervision of the performance of individual authorised testers is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. A local authority may suspend or terminate an appointment as an authorised tester.

Currently 7 Bus Éireann garages hold appointments from local authorities as authorised testers for the purposes of carrying out compulsory roadworthiness testing. An independent review is currently being 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, to ensure ongoing safety and roadworthiness. This review includes buses used in connection with the school transport scheme. I have requested that the review be completed as soon as possible and that a copy of the report be forwarded to me as soon as it is available. Separately, I have requested the Chief Executive designate of the 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. I understand that the Chief Executive designate has already commenced preparatory work in connection with the review.