School bus tragedy - Seat belts could have saved lives

The outcome of three investigations into Monday's tragic school bus accident in Meath will have to be awaited, but one conclusion the general public has arrived at is that seat belts should have been compulsory on school buses.

Six years ago, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the review of school transport recommended precisely that, but the Government was deaf to it for the simple reason that it would have cost too much money.

In light of this week's crash, which has devastated the families of the unfortunate victims and stunned the nation, €60 million will seem an insignificant cost to update the fleet.