Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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794. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a matter with regard to school bus drivers (details supplied) will be examined and reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1357/22]

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 current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.

The purpose of the 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.

Bus Éireann's current policy is that the normal retirement age for all staff is 66 years. The company previously examined the age limit for drivers who provide services as part of the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department of Education, following this review, Bus Éireann extended the age limit for part-time school bus drivers and drivers nominated by private operators. 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.

As Bus Éireann's have previously examined the driver retirement age, the company has no current plans to alter the age requirements for school bus drivers who provide services under the School Transport Scheme.