Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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762. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the procedure that applies to a private bus contractor serving three schools in the midlands who is using a bus in which some of the seat belts do not work, in which there is mould on the windows and in which mice are running around freely while the bus is transferring pupils to and from school (details supplied). [46684/15]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Buses provide services to carry schoolchildren both under the Department of Education & Skills School Transport Scheme and also in a private capacity hired by, for example, parents of schoolchildren or schools.

Every school bus is required to be tested under the Road Safety Authority's (RSA) Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test (CVRT), which is the primary annual vehicle safety inspection.

All Bus Éireann buses and those owned by operators contracted by Bus Éireann are required to have a valid annual roadworthiness test certificate in order to be used to provide school transport services.

It would appear from the details supplied that the service in question is a private service operating outside the Scheme over which my Department and Bus Éireann has no remit.