David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 560: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if all buses used in the school transport scheme have been fitted with seatbelts; if not, when she expects this to be completed; the legislation governing same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33241/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Bus Éireann has advised that all of its buses, and the majority of contractors' buses, operating as part of the School Transport Schemes have been fitted with safety belts. The remainder are on schedule to be fitted with safety belts by the target date of December, 2006. This is in accordance with the package of measures to enhance the safety of school transport operations announced by Minister Hanafin and myself in July, 2005.

My colleague, the Minister for Transport, made regulations earlier this year entitled the European Communities (Compulsory Use of Safety Belts and Child Restraint Systems in Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 240 of 2006). Essentially, these regulations provide that safety belts must be worn once they are fitted. These regulations also oblige owners of buses fitted with safety belts to ensure that passengers are informed of the requirement to wear safety belts while they are seated and the bus is in motion. This obligation may be discharged by one or more of the following means — announcement by the driver or conductor, by audio visual means or by signs or by pictograms displayed at each seat.