Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the Government's initiative to improve the school transport system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4929/07]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if all children at primary and secondary level using the school transport service have their own seat and seatbelt; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5029/07]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 199 together.

In July, 2005, the Government announced a range of measures to enhance safety and improve the 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.

My Department has been assured by Bus Éireann, which administers the school transport scheme, that children travelling on buses in the school transport scheme now have a seat of their own and all 3,000 vehicles nominated to serve in the school transport scheme have also been equipped with seat belts. Additional vehicles were required to meet the capacity shortfall arising from the phasing out of the "3 for 2" seating. In that regard, Bus Éireann hired in over 300 additional vehicles from the private sector and funding was also approved for Bus Éireann to increase its school transport fleet by 161 buses, including 50 new school buses. In a comprehensive review of the national network, Bus Éireann also created additional capacity by introducing 70 extra trips using existing buses, by implementing 30 other service extensions, and by replacing some 130 small vehicles with larger capacity models. These improvements meant that, by the end of 2006, the average age of the Bus Éireann school bus fleet was at its lowest level since the 1980s.

A safety information campaign was launched in August, 2006 to make parents and children aware that it is now the law to wear seat belts on school buses, where provided, and to encourage children to behave in a safety-conscious manner on, and in the vicinity of, school buses. These messages were conveyed by way of television, cinema and radio advertisements and through a DVD and posters which were distributed to all primary and post-primary schools. A further safety information campaign is planned for this year in co-operation with Bus Éireann, the Road Safety Authority and other relevant authorities. It is also planned to extend the Warning Flashing Light pilot project on school buses to three areas as an additional measure intended to enhance safety in the vicinity of school buses.

Other improvements that have been implemented include a formal vetting structure that is now in place for drivers of buses and taxis employed on services operating under the school transport scheme. Also, Bus Éireann is currently developing a training programme for the drivers of privately-owned contractors' school buses that provide services under the school transport scheme, to enhance their driving techniques and the training that their employers give them. It is envisaged that this programme will begin during 2007.