There has been considerable investment, and rightly so, in recent years in Iarnród Éireann, DART, Luas, Aer Lingus and inter-city Bus Éireann buses. However, the transport fleet that is entrusted to carry our children to school is now the least safe method of public transport. In the past year there have been five serious accidents involving school buses. Everybody remembers the tragic death of five young girls in Kentstown, County Meath. In addition, a bus went on fire in County Meath minutes before it was due to pick up children. In Sligo, a seven year old fell out of a bus window, while in Clara, County Offaly, a young boy lost his life. Yesterday, a bus which had been carrying 32 school children caught fire and burned out.

This must be a matter of serious concern for the Government. I heard the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, say this morning on the radio that we have a safe and roadworthy school bus system. However, the Department combined the private contracted buses and the school bus fleet to reduce the average age of the vehicles, which is now estimated to be 16 years. This is an issue on which the Taoiseach has absolute control. It is not subject to court rulings or confusion.

Many parents are concerned about their children travelling on the clapped-out school bus fleet, many of whose vehicles are more than 16 years old. Having a transport company run a school bus fleet causes confusion between supplying a proper and safe service and running a commercial entity. Is the Government not concerned about this? Is the Taoiseach not anxious that a school bus fleet of that age operated by Bus Éireann is not as roadworthy as it should be? Contrary to what the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, said, five accidents and six deaths in the past year is not a safe record. What will the Taoiseach do about it?

The Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, correctly said that the school bus fleet has had a good record over the years. What Deputy Kenny said is also correct, last year has been worrying. There have been five incidents and in two of those children were killed. In another incident, children got out of the back of a bus and yesterday there could have been an enormous tragedy. We must count ourselves lucky after that. However, when we get such luck we must examine the issues carefully to try to avoid such difficulties in the future.

Both Bus Éireann and the Garda are investigating the causes of the fire yesterday. I cannot comment on the causes until those investigations have been completed but it is important that we find out what happened. The bus in question passed its annual roadworthiness test in August and was checked as part of the maintenance programme at the end of March. It was not due to lack of examination. The average age of the bus fleet is 11 years, when the Bus Éireann and private buses are combined, but the average age of the Bus Éireann fleet is higher, as the Deputy said. Buses have a long lifespan in all countries. It is not the age but the roadworthiness of a bus that matters.

The procedures for the bus fleet have been followed. We have been involved, in conjunction with the local authorities and the fire service, in conducting full examinations and checks of all these issues. Deputy Kenny asked if I am happy that everything is all right after five incidents, and, frankly, no, I am not. I spoke to the Minister today and I asked him, in conjunction with his officials, to order a full systems review of the entire process, to examine the criteria and to examine how we do our business in this area. We will not be lucky all the time and we have not been lucky previously so it is better that we examine it. Perhaps the system is fine but I am not an authority on it. We must examine all the processes and procedures in place.

One matter that was brought to my attention some time ago is that roadworthiness checks on buses are carried out by CIE staff. The view is that it would not be possible to have thousands of buses checked outside CIE. However, auditing oneself is not good practice in any area. This should be examined. Again, it might be unavoidable but the entire process should be examined. I discussed this earlier with the Minister, Deputy Cullen, and he will order that it happens today.

I thank the Taoiseach for his indication that there will be a full review and audit of the process and structure of the school transport system. When a transport company is running a fleet that is designed to provide safe transport for school children, there can be confusion between running a commercial entity and providing a safe system. What are the maintenance costs for the existing fleet? The provision of newer buses, with an age limit of ten years for example, would reduce maintenance costs substantially. How can a bus that was checked two days ago subsequently catch fire? Mechanics can only do a certain amount with buses that are beyond a certain age. As a matter of urgency, will the Minister for Education and Science instruct that every bus that is ten years old or over be independently assessed? There is a fear that there will be more of these types of incidents. With buses that are 16 years old or more and given the nature of the five incidents in the past 12 months, it is a cause for serious concern.

The Department of Education and Science has written to parents with children who use the school bus system. The departmental letter claims that because of the unfortunate tragedy in Kentstown, seat belts are being placed on all school buses. However, as a result, there is no room for some children and parents must make whatever arrangements they want to get their children to school. Has the introduction of these seat belts to increase safety resulted in a reduction by a third of the number of children who can be carried on the system, resulting in parents being told to find their own way to school?

Earlier in the year the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy de Valera, outlined the procedures that will be introduced. Obviously, if seat belts are introduced for children on school buses, it will affect seating capacity on the buses and some children will not be able to travel on them. In the incident in which a child fell out of the back of the bus, there were seat belts on that bus. The Department wrote to parents because children were not using seat belts. The necessary arrangements have been made. Until recently, the number of children allowed on the buses was in excess of the number of seats. This cannot continue when seat belt wearing is made compulsory.

Those involved in testing the school bus fleet are strict on the roadworthiness test. They are conscious that children are being carried on the buses and, children being children, may not be the quietest on a bus. The bus in question passed its Department of Transport roadworthiness test. It was conducted in an authorised test centre in Meath last August. It also had a recent service. In these examinations the older buses must be watched. Many older buses are in very good order.

The test processes are best to be considered. Maybe it is all perfect. I would be happy if the system were examined in total. I am not putting any pressure on those involved in testing school buses. A system where an individual can both fix a bus and do its DOT examination does not apply in other areas. It is an issue on everyone's, especially parents', minds. We acted last year to increase the number of buses and expenditure on the fleet is substantial. Since the tragic accident last year we have tackled the seat belt issue. There have been other incidents where people have lost their lives. The system must be carefully examined. It would be fine if there were no room for improvement. Nothing will be lost, however, by having a detailed examination. I will ask the Minister to do so.