Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am a County Clare Deputy so forgive me if I do not have many questions for Dublin Bus or Go-Ahead. They can make a cup of coffee for the next few minutes.

It was a bane of many families' lives last September and October trying to sort out school transport for their children and teenagers. There was much over and back for us in the political sphere trying to sort out local bus routes. For many weeks I wrongly believed and explained to parents that there was a Department of Education rule that a bus driver cannot be over 70 years of age. I kept on explaining that only to find out it was not a Department of Education rule but a Bus Éireann contractual rule. What is the continued basis for that over-70 rule? I was a schoolteacher for years and we often loaded up buses for hurling matches, trips to the swimming pool, etc., At 11. a.m., when it is not school drop-off or collection, any operator over 70 can collect a full bus, drive them and bring them back, but they cannot do it in the morning or afternoon. Is someone over 70 more dangerous on the road at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.?