Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Transport if Ireland has signed the European Charter of Pedestrian Rights; the means he foresees for its implementation; the progress in drawing up guidelines for its implementation that can form parts of development plans; the budget he allocates annually by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25282/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The European Charter of Pedestrian Rights was adopted in 1988 by the European Parliament. I will communicate shortly with the Deputy in relation to Ireland's formal position with respect to the Charter.

The Charter, which appears to have been targeted at local authorities sets out a range of transport and local environmental issues in order to safeguard the physical and psychological well-being of the pedestrian. A number of local authorities in Ireland adopted a policy in their Development Plans to improve facilities for pedestrians and access facilities for people with special mobility needs in line with the aims of the Charter.

In the period since the adoption of the Charter, my Department has overseen the implementation of a number of measures which fulfil many of the aims and aspirations outlined in the Charter. Measures being pursued as part of the Road Safety Strategy relating to traffic calming and the introduction of a lower speed limit in residential areas are targeted at improving pedestrian safety.

The National Safety Council, the agency mandated with responsibility for road safety advertising and education, continues to run their "Text" and "Home" advertising campaign targeted at pedestrians.

Directive 2003/102/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 was transposed into domestic legislation with effect from 28 May 2004. The Directive relates to the protection of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. The Directive applies to cars and van-cars up to 2.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight and lays down the harmonised technical requirements for EU type approval of such motor vehicles with regard to pedestrian protection. The aim of the Directive is to reduce deaths and injuries to pedestrians and cyclists by motor vehicles through changes in the design of the fronts (i.e. bumper, bonnet and windscreen) of vehicles.

Directive 2005/66/EC of the European Parliament and the Council setting type approval standards in respect of frontal protection systems e.g. bull-bars, fitted to passenger cars and vans up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight, was adopted on 26 October 2005. Member States are required to adopt this Directive by 25 August 2006. The Directive in relation to passenger cars was transposed into Irish Law on 11 April 2006. It is intended to extend the provisions of the directive to new small vans before 25 August 2006.

It is a matter for local authorities to publish development plans for their areas. Policy matters relating to the making of development plans and the funding of local authorities is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Transport when he will be issuing the guidelines that is, standard and type of belt, for the introduction of seat belts on private school buses; the reason for the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25297/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I recently approved standards for buses fitted with safety belts for the purpose of the grant of Certificates of Roadworthiness (CRW) under the scheme of compulsory periodic vehicle testing administered by local authorities. Essentially, the standards are those set down in the EU type-approval directives relating to anchorages for safety belts (Directive 76/115/EEC as amended). Safety belts fitted to a bus must conform to EU or UN/ECE standards. The standards relate to buses generally and cover safety belts fitted to a vehicle at manufacture or as a retrofit. It is the intention, commencing in September 2008, to make it a requirement for the grant of a CRW for a bus fitted with safety belts that appropriate certification concerning the safety belt installation is provided to the authorised tester (i.e. test centre) that carries out the roadworthiness inspection.

My Department has published a FAQ document in relation to the standards, which may be accessed at www.transport.ie/roads/vehicle standards.