Seat belts will be fitted on all school buses by the end of next year, Minister for Education Mary Hanafin announced today.
Ms Hanafin also said she would eliminate the three for two seating arrangement for second level pupils starting next term.
She said that all school transport would be on a one child per seat basis by December 2006.
"The fitting of seat belts will commence in autumn of this year on all Bus Éireann buses transporting school children and be completed on all private buses in the scheme before the end of December 2006," the Minister said.
The announcement comes after public outcry following the Meath bus crash in May which resulted in the death of five schoolgirls.
A total of 50 large buses will be added to the school fleet from September, while another 80 will come into use in 2006.
Included as part of the scheme will be the purchase of 20 custom-built school buses, of different types, to test their suitability.
An additional 250 minibuses will also be hired from the private sector from this September.
Lap belts will be immediately fitted on all seats on the Bus Eireann school bus fleet, while a target date of end December 2006 has been set for all private buses contracted to the scheme to be fitted with approved seat belts.
However, Fine Gael's e Gael Spokesperson on Community Affairs, Damien English, said "the Ministers must outline that the lap belts that are to be introduced will meet all the necessary safety standards and requirements."
"Some concerns have been expressed about the suitability of lap belts, especially for younger children. The Government must explain whether the decision to install lap belts, as opposed to other types of seat belt, was made on cost or safety grounds."