A campaign to inform students and parents on the importance of wearing seatbelts on school buses where provided was launched today by the Department of Education.
Sile de Valera, Minister for State at the Department of Education
Síle deValera Minister of State at the department said adverts would be run on TV in cinemas and on radio at the start of the new school year.
Launching the campaign Minister deValera said: "Education is the most important means of achieving compliance with the requirement to wear a seat belt.
"It is vitally important that parents, guardians and teachers understand what the new law is and how it applies in relation to school transport. "
She said parents already understood wearing a seat belt in a car was an added safety measure and most would not travel without ensuring that their child was wearing a seatbelt.
"This message must now also be applied to buses transporting children to and from school throughout the country. I am asking for the co-operation of parents and school authorities and all those associated with the transportation of children to make sure that children wear a seatbelt for a safer journey, " she said.
Minister deValera added that in terms of international comparisons, the safety record of the school bus service in Ireland was good. "However, there can be no room for complacency and the recent tragic accidents serve as a constant reminder that safety must be kept at the top of the transport agenda."
She said "3 for 2" seating on primary services by end December would be phased out and that Bus Éireann has acquired "additional new school buses and modern second hand-coaches".
More than 220 additional vehicles have also been sourced from the private sector to cater for school children.