Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Despite an increase in the number of school bus tickets issued this year, there are still difficulties for many families through the lack of a bus service or the lack of capacity on existing routes. Some routes were handed back at the last minute by contractors in many instances because of a shortage of drivers. Last April, I raised such school transport difficulties through parliamentary questions and during Questions on Promised Legislation, with particular reference to the likely shortage of bus drivers. I specifically asked that Bus Éireann would review its policy not to employ qualified and fit drivers aged 70 or over. School routes are short journeys and those persons ineligible to drive a school bus can drive coaches for private hire regardless of the distances involved. I am not suggesting in any way that safety should be compromised but surely a case could be made for drivers to carry out short-term work while undergoing regular medical checks. This policy needs to be reviewed. We need services on all approved school bus routes. Schools have now been open again for almost a month and in some instances in some parishes, there are no school transport services.

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