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School bus safety to be improved School bus safety to be improved
(about 2 hours later)
Children's Minister Marie Eagle is expected to announce a set of measures aimed at improving safety on school buses in Northern Ireland. Children's Minister Marie Eagle has announced measures to improve safety on school buses in Northern Ireland.
It is understood the announcement will include the commissioning of more than 100 new buses, all of which will have seat belts fitted. The minister said funding has been made available for more than 100 new buses which will have seat belts fitted.
Standing on school buses is also expected to be phased out. Ms Eagle said she hoped the investment would help phase out the problem of pupils standing on school buses.
Campaigners have also called for the abolition of the rule whereby three children can sit in a seat for two. "We are providing (Translink) with money so they can buy 110 single deck buses which we are commissioning especially for school use," she said.
"These new buses will have seat belts and that will enable us to put an end to the routine practice of children having to stand on the way to school."
Eleanor Gill, chief executive of the General Consumer Council NI said on Tuesday that the council had been campaigning for a long time for better and safer transport for the 100,000 children who are travelling to school each day.Eleanor Gill, chief executive of the General Consumer Council NI said on Tuesday that the council had been campaigning for a long time for better and safer transport for the 100,000 children who are travelling to school each day.
Safety
"We would like to see the abolition of the three-for-two rule, which allows for three children to sit in a space for two people," she said."We would like to see the abolition of the three-for-two rule, which allows for three children to sit in a space for two people," she said.
"We would also like to see the abolition of standing on buses which we feel adds to lack of safety, overcrowding and which can lead to poor behaviour and bullying."We would also like to see the abolition of standing on buses which we feel adds to lack of safety, overcrowding and which can lead to poor behaviour and bullying.
Safety
"Above all, we want to see the phased introduction of seat belts on buses to ensure that our children are not an accident waiting to happen.""Above all, we want to see the phased introduction of seat belts on buses to ensure that our children are not an accident waiting to happen."
In June, a University of Ulster report into school transport in NI found pupils did not feel safe. In June, a University of Ulster report into school transport in Northern Ireland found pupils did not feel safe.
It also said children were worried about the lack of seat belts on buses and recommended stopping three children sitting on a seat designed for two people.It also said children were worried about the lack of seat belts on buses and recommended stopping three children sitting on a seat designed for two people.
The report, "Safer Journeys to School" was jointly funded by the Northern Ireland Children's Commissioner, the Department of Regional Development and the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.The report, "Safer Journeys to School" was jointly funded by the Northern Ireland Children's Commissioner, the Department of Regional Development and the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.