284 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation as to who is entitled to the 20% daily rate grant aid available to owners of school buses over 10 years old to enable them to upgrade their vehicles; the reason applicants who applied for such upgrade grants were advised that minibuses are not eligible; the guidelines for grant aid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33319/06]

In general, larger buses tend to be older than minibuses, and the rate of grant payable is intended to encourage the owners of such older vehicles to acquire more modern replacements. The replacement vehicles must be equipped with manufacturer-fitted seat belts, or with safety belt anchorage points by the vehicle manufacturer to which type-approved belts have subsequently been installed. The fittings must conform to the standards contained in the guidelines published by the Department of Transport for the installation of safety belts. At this stage, the vast majority of vehicles operating under the school transport schemes are already fitted with safety belts and I expect that the remaining vehicles will be so fitted by the target date of the end of next December.