Yesterday's school bus crash in Co Offaly is a tragedy of devastating proportions for the 15-year-old boy who was killed and for his family and fellow pupils from Killina Presentation School, more than 30 of whom were injured. The incident underlines the fragility of human life and the fact that at any time, routine activities can end in the most unexpected way, resulting in lost lives, broken bodies and psychological trauma.
In reflecting on this reality, it is important to ensure that all those affected - some of tender age who are facing the most difficult experience of their young lives - are properly supported. As is common in such circumstances, the local community has already exhibited a determination to unite around the bereaved and injured. And Minister for Education Mary Hanafin moved promptly to make available a school counselling service.
Investigations are under way into the cause and circumstances of the crash, especially as to how - and when - the back axle of the 1989-registered bus became detached. The vehicle belonged to a private operator who had been contracted by parents to provide the transport service. Confirmation that it was not equipped with seatbelts cast a fresh focus on well-rehearsed issues relating to the State's own school bus fleet. These include the absence of seatbelts on so many vehicles and the risks inherent in the operation of "two-for-three" seating, where three students share two adult seats.
The Department of Education has made progress on these issues since the deaths of five teenagers when their school bus crashed near Navan last May. Ms Hanafin announced in July the provision of €36.5 million to ensure all students using the State's school transport system would have their own seats and seatbelts by next December - although there are significant differences between experts on the use of restraints which are designed and tested, in the first instance, for use by adults. In the interim, legislation provides that seatbelts, where fitted, must be worn from May 9th.
In the aftermath of the Taoiseach's acceptance in the Dáil yesterday that similar standards should apply "ideally" to schoolchildren travelling on privately operated buses, the Government must act to make this ideal a reality. Such a move is urgent given that capacity pressures resulting from the welcome demise of three-for-two arrangements will push more children into the realm of the private sector. And notwithstanding the relative overall safety record of school buses, the Government must act too to improve driver assessment and safety auditing and to modernise the school bus fleet.