Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 208: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the regional breakdown on the location of the 2,000 warnings issued by school transport inspectors since 2004 to date in 2008 and the location of school transport contracts terminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24849/08]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The warnings referred to by the Deputy refer to deficiencies in service performance found during in-service checks conducted by school bus inspectors. This is a separate mechanism from the system of random maintenance checks, which themselves are in addition to the statutory Roadworthiness test under the auspices of the Department of Transport. The Roadworthiness Test remains the national statutory standard and the most important testing mechanism for public buses.

The warnings issued following in-service checks conducted by Bus Éireann School Transport Inspectors related to matters such as carrying children without tickets, bad timekeeping, failure to use nominated vehicle or driver, missing fire extinguisher or first aid kit, driver not carrying his/her driving licence etc. The following is the list of the locations by Bus Éireann administrative region where such warnings/advisories were issued during the period in question, with the number of contract terminations shown in brackets:

Northwest Region 29 (6)

West Region 128 (22)

East Region 60 (4)

South West Region 397 (5)

South Region 1,410 (0)

I can assure the Deputy that the safety of children travelling on the school transport service is of paramount importance to my Department and to Bus Éireann.