Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 185: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of buses more than 20 years old that are under contract for transporting children in the State; the number of buses that are more than 20 years old that are used for transporting children to school in County Louth; if there are any provision regarding the use of a bus that is more than 20 years old when applying for a contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32008/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Bus Éireann which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department has advised that there are over 3,000 vehicles engaged under contract daily to provide school transport services.

Under the School Transport Scheme, Bus Éireann has set a goal to withdraw buses from daily service at 20 years. Where buses over 20 years are in use, it is an exceptional short-term measure and the buses involved are checked to ensure that they continue to meet all statutory requirements and are also subject to independent vehicle checks conducted by external experts on behalf of Bus Éireann.

Bus Éireann has advised that there are currently less than twenty buses over 20 years under contract nationally.

In County Louth there are two buses over twenty years under contract and there is an understanding that both these vehicles will be replaced by younger buses by the end of this year.

In addition to the 3,000 vehicles engaged under contract, Bus Éireann uses approximately 600 of its own buses to provide school transport services. Of these, five buses are over 20 years.