Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A bus operator in Cavan is set to lose three drivers this year for his school run due to the ridiculous rule of Bus Éireann whereby people cannot drive a bus once they reach 70 years of age. This is one operator in one county, so if we look at all of the operators in all of the counties, there will be many more. The ridiculous thing is that the same driver could arrive on a bus an hour after school has begun and bring those children on a tour, to a sports event or to another event. I have heard many Members raise this in this House and in the Dáil, and I have not heard anyone disagree with raising the age for school bus drivers.

The Government has announced its intention to significantly expand the school transport system between now and 2030.It is supposed to increase year on year. How on earth are they going to get drivers for all the additional capacity needed to bring up to 100,000 or more additional children to school on the school bus transport system? Something needs to be done. I call on the Minister for Transport to address this issue with Bus Éireann immediately to allow drivers who reach the age of 70 to continue to drive until they choose to retire as long as they are capable and pass whatever tests are needed.