Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a review will be carried out regarding the provision of a bus escort for a child (details supplied) travelling to and from school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24231/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

In the 2019/2020 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.  

The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.

In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest school that is resourced to meet their special educational needs.   Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers. 

The pupil referred to by the Deputy is not attending her nearest school and is availing of a concessionary seat.  Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil requires a 2pm collection time and while there is an escort on the morning service there is no escort travelling on the 2pm service.  School Transport Section has not received a request for additional escort hours for this bus service but will liaise with the school directly on this matter.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the 70 years of age limit will be reviewed for drivers in circumstances in which appropriate medical evidence supports this and if necessary on a self-indemnification basis by the drivers in view of the requirement for additional buses to provide socially distant school transport to secondary schools. [24235/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019. 

The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. 

It is Bus Éireann policy that the normal retirement age for all staff is currently 66 years. Bus Éireann part-time school bus drivers and drivers nominated by private operators as school bus drivers may continue to perform this role, subject to completing an annual medical examination up to the retirement age of 70 years.

This criteria is applied to all drivers who provide services as part of the School transport scheme that is operated by Bus Éireann, on behalf of the Department of Education.  As this age limit has been examined previously and the retirement age extended to 70 years, there are no plans to extend this limit further at this point in time.