All the circumstances of this morning's school bus crash in Co Offaly will be investigated, Minister for Education Mary Hanafin has said.
She offered her "sincere condolences" to the families of the students involved in the bus crash. "My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family at this time. My deepest sympathy to them at this time of terrible grief.
Labour Party TD Jan O'Sullivan
"I also want to offer my sympathies to those who were injured in this crash and wish them a full and quick recovery."
She said the Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) had been made available to the school community of Rahan.
She added: "I know that the Garda and relevant authorities will investigate all the circumstances of this accident and I want to pay tribute to the emergency services for their response to this accident."
Fine Gael spokeswoman on education Olwyn Enright expressed sympathy for the family of the boy who died.
She said it was "of particular concern" that "this is the second major accident involving a school bus in such a short space of time".
Labour's Jan O'Sullivan also expressed sympathy adding: "This is the second major school bus crash in just over a year.
"Yet, analysis of the circumstances and reasons for this crash must take second place behind concern for all those who have been caught-up in this tragedy."
Bishop of Meath Dr Michael Smith pledged the "solidarity and prayerful support of all in the diocese.
"Arrangements have recently been put in place to commemorate the memory of the five young girls killed in the bus tragedy outside Navan in May last year. That another such bus tragedy should involve young people from another school in the diocese is something that will evoke both shock and grief."
President of teachers' union the Asti Sheila Parsons and General Secretary John White said: "We all feel profoundly for the grief and loss of the parents and family of the boy killed so tragically this morning.
"Sudden bereavement has an enormous and profound impact on a school community. We know that the school community will come together and will do all in its power to deal with their sudden and tragic loss."
In the Dáil this evening the Taoiseach and opposition party leaders expressed their sympathy to family of the schoolboy killed in the incident.
"I wish to express my sympathy to the families and relatives in the community of the young 15-year-old who was killed in this accident. For them this is a sad and black day," Mr Ahern said.
The Taoiseach said that it a tragic accident and wished "a speedy recovery to all of those in hospital".
In relation to the causes of the crash Mr Ahern said the gardaí were investigating and that it was "inappropriate" to make further comments until all the details emerged.
He did however say that it is understood that "the operation in question was not a contracted school bus but a private hire managed vehicle engaged on private hire and licensed by the Garda Síochana."
He added that the bus in question had its annual road worthy test last September.