It is less than a year since the tragic bus accident in Navan in which five young teenagers lost their lives. It is appropriate that we begin by expressing our sympathies to the parents and friends of the pupil from Killina Presentation secondary school in Clara, County Offaly, who unfortunately died and to those who were injured. I understand that the emergency services operated effectively and quickly.

Approximately 130,000 children are transported to school everyday by the transport service of the Department of Education and Science. Many thousands of other children travel to school using private bus operators, which is encouraged by the Department where there might not be sufficient numbers to warrant a full-scale departmental service.

Naturally, the safety of those children is of concern to all Members. Has the Taoiseach an up-to-date report on this accident and the tragic circumstances surrounding it? Does he have information concerning the mechanical state of the vehicle involved and whether it possessed a certificate under the relevant NCT? Is it the case that while this bus was not fitted with seat belts, private buses carrying school children to school are not required to be so fitted? Was the bus licensed by the Department of Transport and what checks, if any, were carried out in that respect? Does the Taoiseach have a report to hand as to how many children were on the bus? Were some children required to stand?

I understand that two inquiries have been initiated, one by the Department of Transport and the other by the Garda. Obviously, they will take some time to report. I am sure the Taoiseach shares my sympathy for those involved in the tragedy and the concern of the many thousands of parents whose children avail of privately operated bus schemes to be transported to school that the highest standards should apply and that a similar tragedy should not recur.

First, I express the sympathy of the House to the family, relatives and community of the 15 year old person who was killed in this tragic accident. This is a sad and black day for them and I pass on the sympathy of the Government and all Members. We wish a speedy and full recovery to the 12 people who were brought to hospital and understand the shock experienced by all others involved.

This was a tragic accident involving a school bus taking children to Killina Presentation secondary school in Rahan, County Offaly. As Deputy Kenny noted, the midlands accident and emergency master plan was put into full operation and ambulances from Portlaoise, Tullamore and Athlone attended the scene. I understand that my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, will visit the families and the school later this evening to extend my deepest sympathy to them all.

The Garda is investigating fully the circumstances of the tragic event to establish the causes of the accident and any contributory factors relating to it. Members will appreciate that it would be inappropriate of me to make further comment until I receive the details. In so far as I can reply to some of Deputy Kenny's questions, my understanding, based on information from Bus Éireann, is that the operation in question was not a contracted school bus, but a private hire management. Vehicles engaged in private hire are licensed by the Garda Síochána for a large public service licence. They are required to undergo an annual roadworthiness test undertaken at the authorised test centres which are appointed by the local authorities. I understand the bus in question was the subject of its annual roadworthiness test at the outset of the school year last September. I understand that while it was not necessary for the bus to be licensed with the Department of Transport, the operator was required to be, and was so licensed.

There was much discussion on this issue in this House last year after the tragic accident in Meath. We continue with the process of fulfilling our own regulations and the EU directives regarding seat belts on vehicles. A number of issues arise in this respect that are ongoing at present. That work will continue. I again give our sympathy to the families concerned.

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. In a response to Question No. 76 of 15 February 2006 from Deputy O'Sullivan of the Labour Party, the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy de Valera, replied to the effect that buses which are hired privately are not subject to the same regulations as those operating within the Department of Education and Science scheme and that the Department does not have any influence or authority regarding the operation of such buses. Parents who make a contract with a contractor to provide a private bus are expected to ensure that the required safety standards apply, but often it is extremely difficult for a community of parents to do so as they are anxious to get a transport scheme to operate for their children. This can frequently happen when there are insufficient numbers for a full departmental scheme to apply.

I suggest that the Taoiseach initiate a review of the number of school children who are carried by privately operated buses under schemes operating outside the control of the Department of Education and Science to the Department's schools, as outlined in Deputy O'Sullivan's question in February of this year. Two parallel systems exist. One operates under the aegis of the Department of Education and Science, which seeks to implement the highest possible standards following the tragic deaths of five young people last year. In the other system, in which parents are expected to ensure that the highest standards apply, private bus operators with licences are contracted to provide a similar service to Department of Education and Science schools. Would it not be appropriate to make it mandatory that the same set of standards and safety issues should apply when private bus operators operate a private contract for parents? This should be taken for granted and parents should not be expected to know all the details of such standards or to ensure that they apply For children involved in education, the same high levels of safety standards should apply in terms of vehicles, licences, seat belts etc., regardless of whether they are transported by a scheme operated by the Department of Education and Science or by a private contracted service.

Hence, I bring to the Taoiseach's attention a recommendation made by Deputy Naughten in 1999 in the all-party report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Science dealing with educational issues, namely, that those safety standards which apply to public school transport should also apply in the case of privately contracted buses. Perhaps the Taoiseach will take these issues on board in view of the recurrence of tragic circumstances.

Some, if not all, of those well made points are under examination — I will ensure all of them are considered — following last year's events. As the Deputy noted, although the safety check for roadworthiness takes place under the authorised test centres, the same level of safety standards that apply to public buses, be they CIE buses or Bus Éireann buses, do not apply to privately contracted buses.

Today, I spoke to the responsible Ministers about this issue and they briefed me on the developments in recent months with regard to the various directives. Those issues are being considered. Our law will incorporate a number of directives to the effect that from October 2007, all new buses, other than for scheduled services, must be fitted with safety belts. However, a large proportion of our buses are older stock. Moreover, we buy older buses — presumably private contractors also do so — which are not fitted with seat belts. Following last year's school bus accident in Kentstown, we decided the school transport fleet would be fitted with seat belts on a phased basis and that the entire fleet would be so equipped by no later than the end of this year. In addition, the application of Directive 2003/20/EC will mean that the wearing of seat belts on school buses, once fitted, will be mandatory. While there is the question of a bus operator who is not part of the system, I am sure the matter is being examined. Ideally, the same standards should apply to transport for all school children, especially in rural areas. There is the question of what happens in the case of the scheduled service, which would apply to buses within cities. I understand these issues are being examined. I will bring to the attention of the relevant parties all the points made by the Deputy.