Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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45. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to review the situation whereby persons over 70 years of age cannot transport children to and from school, but the same person can carry the same children outside of school hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18265/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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The Deputy is aware that Bus Éireann has advised my Department that in response to the expressed wishes of many school bus drivers - both Bus Éireann and private contractor school bus drivers - who wanted to remain in the position upon reaching retirement age at sixty-five years, and following the advice of their Medical Department, the Company decided to alter the compulsory retirement age for school bus drivers who provide services under the School Transport Scheme to enable experienced personnel to remain on in the position for a maximum of five more years if desired.

School bus drivers who opt to remain on after sixty-five years of age may do so up to the age of seventy, if they are satisfied to do so, subject to annual medical review and once they continue to hold the requisite driving licence. Bus Éireann has further advised that the opinion of the Bus Éireann Chief Medical Officer is that, given the demanding and safety critical nature of School Bus driving, 70 years of age is deemed a reasonable age at which to retire from such employment.

In light of the foregoing I have no plans to review the situation.