Written answers
Thursday, 8 December 2016
Department of Education and Skills
School Transport
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria in relation to school bus drivers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39178/16]
John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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As the Deputy is aware, Bus Éireann operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department.
Bus Éireann has advised that the minimum age for school bus drivers is 23 years and the candidate must have at least two years driving experience.
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-six 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 four more years if desired.
School bus drivers who opt to remain on after sixty-six 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 an appropriate age at which to retire from such employment.
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