Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1030. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the engagement that she has had with Bus Éireann with regard to extending eligibility for bus drivers on the school transport scheme over the age of 70 years, subject to a medical assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44173/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the past school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were 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.
My Department officials engage with Bus Éireann staff on a daily basis with regard to the operation of the School Transport Scheme. In addition, quarterly strategic, and monthly operational meetings are held throughout the year.
Agreed Performance Indicators for the operation of the scheme are set out in the Service Level Agreement and this forms the basis of the regular meetings held between the Department of Education and Bus Éireann.
Officials also hold regular meetings as the need arises which include but is not limited to: planning for additional school transport places, the management of transport provision for children arriving from Ukraine, the implications that increasing fuel costs may have on the provision of school transport services and the estimated cost to the scheme of waiving the school transport annual ticket charge.
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 license 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.
The age limit on school bus drivers was increased to 70 years a number of years ago. While Bus Éireann have informed the Department there is no plan to increase the age limit further at this time, the matter will continue to be kept under review.
