Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
537. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the case of school bus drivers whereby once they reach 70 years of age, they are no longer allowed to be employed under the Bus Éireann school bus contract despite having passed a yearly medical assessment permitting them to drive other coaches; if she will review this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37118/22]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
While over 90% of services are contracted locally, Bus Éireann apply stringent assessments of each individual driver on 7,000 school routes. This includes vetting and background checks.
Bus Éireann has reviewed the matter referred to by the Deputy and has advised that from the age of 70, all drivers even of private cars must complete a medical report form signed by a registered medical practitioner. This is a Road Safety Authority requirement for any licence category applied for at age 70. It exists because of the known effects of aging on eyesight, on cognitive and physical performance, the increased risk of co-morbidities and the increased likelihood of drivers taking a number of medications. For public transport, and especially large capacity public transport carrying children, these risks are increased as the potential harm that could result is that much greater.
The age limit on school bus drivers was increased to 70 years a number of years ago. While Bus Éireann keep the age limits of drivers under review, they have informed my department there is no plan to increase the age limit further at this time.
