Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
902. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if any consideration has been given to re-employing or providing short-term contracts to school bus drivers aged 70 years-plus to ease the very serious pressures on the school transport scheme. [43132/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1009. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if she will immediately lift the ban on school bus drivers over the age of 70 in order to make more school transport bus drivers available. [43936/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 902 and 1009 together.
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the last 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.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
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.
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.
There is no plan to increase the age limits of school bus drivers to age 70 or over, however the matter will continue to be kept under review.
