Written answers

Tuesday, 24 October 2006

Department of Education and Science

School Transport

9:00 pm

Photo of Ivor CallelyIvor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 594: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of school children who are provided with school transport; the issues under consideration to improve safety for all such users of the transport services provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34304/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The annual average number of pupils carried on primary and post primary school transport services since 2003 is 136,500, including about 8,000 children with special educational needs.

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, which has been completed;

the phasing out of "3 for 2" seating on primary services by end December, 2006, which is well advanced;

the immediate fitting of approved seat belts on the Bus Éireann school bus fleet, which has been completed; and

the fitting of approved seat belts on private buses in the school transport scheme by a target date of December, 2006, which is also well advanced.

In August, 2006, I launched a safety information campaign to make parents and children aware that it is now the law to wear seat belts on school buses, where provided. The campaign also aims to encourage children to behave in a safety-conscious manner on, and in the vicinity of, school buses.

These messages are being conveyed by way of television, cinema and radio advertisements and through a DVD which will shortly be distributed to each primary and post-primary school.

Other measures to enhance safety which my Department is currently examining include the possibility of extending the warning flashing light pilot scheme to buses in a number of areas in 2007 with a view to a full roll out nationally.

With regard to child protection, Bus Éireann has informed my Department that it is envisaged that formal vetting procedures will come on stream later this year for new bus drivers and at a later stage for all existing drivers, including Bus Éireann, contractor and taxi drivers engaged under the school transport scheme.

In relation to driver training, the content of Bus Éireann's driver training courses continues to be updated and improved. The company intends to circulate a updated Drivers Manual to its school bus drivers very shortly. In addition, a training course is currently being developed by Bus Éireann for all contractors' school bus drivers, which will help to bring the training of these drivers up to a similar standard as those employed directly by Bus Éireann.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 595: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on changing a school transport route in County Mayo to a later time in the mornings as the pupils are arriving too early at the school; if the matter will be investigated and changed for the next academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34305/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has requested the Transport Liaison Officer (TLO) for County Mayo to submit a report on the service referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied. My Department will liaise with the TLO regarding the issues referred to by the Deputy.

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