Debate contribution: Safety at School Bus Stops

Debate contribution by Mrs Linda Dillon on 2 June 2025.

MLA

Mrs Linda Dillon

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

2 June 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Opposition Business

Heading

Safety at School Bus Stops

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4981297

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

I thank everybody who took part in the debate and those who tabled the motion and amendments. We cannot overstate the significance of the issue, which is most vividly expressed by the attendance in the Public Gallery of families who have been impacted on by serious road traffic collisions resulting in the death of or serious and life-changing injuries to their children. As others have outlined, our thoughts are with you and your families. I am sure that the debate, whilst welcome, is extremely difficult for you all. I am glad to hear resounding support from all Benches for improved safety for children and young people on our roads. In that vein, I welcome the Minister's campaign, launched a few weeks ago, on the overtaking of stationary school buses. It is clear that we need to see a change and a cultural shift in safety awareness. We must all be aware of the danger that we can pose to ourselves and others through our behaviour on the roads. As Members, we have outlined that an education response will be required. We need to ensure that we have a fit-for-purpose, robust and compulsory road safety programme as part of the curriculum. I was glad to hear the Minister's comments about engagement with the Education Minister on what more we can do, and I ask that specific work be done by the Education Department with the Education Authority's transport division to look at the safety of bus pick-up and drop-off points. We have talked much today about speeds around schools, but children are getting off buses on rural roads, and most of the incidents do not happen around schools. We all have a responsibility to ensure that we do everything that we can as individuals, leaders in our communities and legislators to ensure the safety of all road users. If the Minister's announcement today about her intention to introduce legislation can help to ensure that no family has to suffer the loss and trauma that the families who are with us today have endured, that is one positive step. Last week, as a member of the Policing Board, I visited the road safety division of the PSNI. It was a real eye-opener to understand the full extent of the work that it carries out. When I met the families earlier today, they highlighted the fact that they do important work with that division by advising it on how its processes work for families and victims. The most important thing to all of us, as parents, is the safety of our children. When they go to school every day, we think that they will come home. I cannot begin to imagine what it is like for the families who did not have that experience or those for whom the child who came back to them was not the child who left home that morning. I cannot begin to put myself in your shoes. Through what Minister Liz Kimmins has done in recent weeks, in launching the awareness campaign —

— and her announcement today, I hope that you will know that we have listened and acted and will continue to listen. It is not a silver bullet solution. We need to work with everyone, including families, advocate groups, school and youth groups —

— young people and the PSNI and DFI. I again thank all the families who have come here today.

576 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:45 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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