Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Can we have a debate with the Minister for Education or the Minister for Transport, whoever is in charge of it at the moment, concerning the request that over-70s be able to drive school buses? We have a critical situation in Tipperary. We have a shortage of people able to drive buses but we have businesses contracted with Bus Éireann which have people aged over 70 who would be able to drive those buses but are not allowed. There is no sense to it. We have a staff shortage and we have people who are qualified, who have a driving licence to drive a bus to bring kids to school, who used to do it before they were 70 and who loved their job. All we are saying is they should be allowed to do it. We recently increased the age for people to go into An Garda Síochána. I do not see any reason we cannot increase the age for people to be able to drive school buses. It is a simple thing. People who are over 75 need a medical certificate but not those over 70. Many people have driven buses for years, reached the age of 70 and cannot do it anymore but are perfectly fit and able and have the driver's licence to do it. It needs to be done. We are at a critical stage in terms of teachers in schools, but certainly in terms of school bus drivers.