The Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, has offered her condolence to the students and families of Killina Presentation Secondary School, Co Offaly, after this morning's bus accident in which a 15-year-old boy was killed and 32 other students were hurt.
Ms Hanafin said she had asked for all necessary support including counselling to be made available to the school community in Rahan.
The minister also paid tribute to the emergency services involved.
The Fine Gael Spokeswoman on Education, Olwyn Enright, said that what was of particular concern was that the accident was the second serious one to involve a school bus in such a short space of time.
Ms Enright sympathised with the victim's family and friends and said that a thorough investigation must be held into the cause of the crash.
The Labour Party Spokeswoman on Education, Jan O'Sullivan, said an analysis of the circumstances and reasons for the crash must take second place behind concern for all those who have been caught up in the tragedy.
