School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
In the current school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, are transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
Following the decision to close schools in March in an effort to conatin the spread of Covid 19, and in light of the exceptional circumstances, it was agreed that school transport contractors operating on the School Transport Scheme would continue to be paid at 50% while schools remained closed in the current school year. My Department is not in a position to provide funding for private bus contractors not contracted to operate on the Department’s School Transport Scheme.
With regard to extending the age of vehicles operating School Transport services, Bus Éireann sets the standard it requires in relation to services operating as part of the School Transport Scheme. In the interest of maintaining the highest standards of safety it is not permitted to operate any bus older than 20 years on school transport services. This standard applies to both vehicles operated by Bus Éireann and those procured from private operators. There are no plans at present to change the current age profile of vehicles operating services as part of the School Transport Scheme.
With regard to the extension of the retirement age of School Bus Drivers it is Bus Éireann company policy that normal retirement age for all Bus Éireann staff is currently 66 years. However Bus Éireann Part-time School Bus Drivers and drivers nominated by private operators who operate service as part of the School Transport scheme may continue to perform in the role provided they hold the requisite licence and satisfy an annual medical examination until they retire at age 70. This policy and criteria is applied to all drivers who provide school transport services on behalf of Bus Éireann equally. As the policy has already been reviewed to extend the retirement age from 66 to 70, there are no plans to have this age limit extended at present.