Local Fianna Fáil Deput, Robert Troy, has called for the school bus driver age limit to be reviewed in a bid to tackle shortage of drivers.
Deputy Troy said the upper age of limit of 70 years for drivers of school buses needs to be examined given people over 70s are permitted to drive for private operators.
The School Transport Scheme is a managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education at a cost of about €382 million per year. In the current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
“School children are being driven to extra circular activities by drivers over the age of 70 who are working for private operators, but these same drivers are not permitted to drive school buses.
“It doesn’t make any sense. People over the age of 70 should be allowed to continue to drive over the age of 70 once they pass an annual medical check up. A requirement for medical clearance would alleviate any concerns about health and safety being compromised. I urge Minister for Education Norma Foley to conduct a review at the earliest opportunity in a bid to address the shortage of drivers and in the process speed up the implementation of reforms.”
The Minister for Education Norma Foley, in response to a parliamentary question, told Deputy Troy that it is Bus Éireann company policy that normal retirement age for all Bus Éireann drivers is currently 70 years. This includes Bus Éireann part-time school bus drivers and drivers nominated by private operators who operate services as part of the School Transport Scheme.
