Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)

The issue I am again raising with the Tánaiste is the bar on over-70s being allowed to drive under the school bus scheme. Drivers should be able to continue working within the scheme until they are 75 provided they pass a strict medical test and a strict eyesight test annually. The situation whereby they are arbitrarily forced to retire at 70 is wrong. We already have a shortage of school bus drivers, and more will be forced out. We are losing drivers every week. More will be forced out between now and the end of August as they reach 70 years of age. Bus Éireann representatives were in the Oireachtas yesterday telling us they are trying to recruit drivers and are going to expand the scheme, but they will be able to do it. I do not mean that in any smart way; I am saying that it is not mission impossible. There is a difficulty as the positions are only part-time positions of three or four hours per day. It suits retired people who are on a State pension. It does not suit young people or men or women who have a family. The wages are not there for it because it is only part-time by its nature. Younger workers simply cannot take that on.

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