Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that bus drivers over 70 years of age with the relevant full licences are not allowed to drive on contracted school bus services for Bus Éireann; if she will consider changing same; if she will make it a stipulation of the conditions of any contract with Bus Éireann that this ageist provision be removed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21560/22]

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 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.

While over 90% of services are contracted locally, Bus Éireann apply stringent assessments of each individual driver on 7,000 school routes.  This includes vetting and background checks.

It is Bus Éireann company policy that normal retirement age for all Bus Éireann staff is currently 66 years.  However Bus Éireann part-time School Bus Drivers and drivers nominated by private operators who operate service as part of the School Transport Scheme may continue to perform in the role provided they hold the requisite licence and satisfy an annual medical examination until they retire at age 70.  This policy and criteria is applied to all drivers who provide school transport services on behalf of Bus Éireann equally.   

The age limit on school bus drivers was increased to 70 years a number of years ago. There is no plan to increase the age limit further at this time.  However the matter will continue to be kept under review.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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221. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that buses contracted by Bus Éireann under school bus contracts have to undergo a second fitness test with Bus Éireann despite already having passed the Department of Education test which is mandatory for all buses; the cost of this second testing to the Department each year; if she intends to inform Bus Éireann that she will no longer pay for same as part of her Department's contract with Bus Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21561/22]

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.

The school transport fleet is made up of both Contractors Vehicles and Bus Éireann vehicles. The safety of children and those on board school transport vehicles is the number one priority for the Department and Bus Éireann

In order to be considered roadworthy a bus must pass an annual Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test (CVRT), conducted under the auspices of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) at approved test centres around the country.  Bus Éireann school transport providers are contractually obliged to ensure that their vehicle has an up to date roadworthiness certificate issued by an RSA accredited test centre when a contract is signed. The contractor is obliged to keep their roadworthiness certificate current and up to date at all times and provide Bus Éireann with evidence of this. All school buses in service - procured by Bus Éireann to provide services under the School Transport Scheme - that are subject to roadside inspections must have current roadworthiness certification at the time of inspection.

A detailed contract is put in place for all contracted services – which includes numerous safety-related items. There is a strict process in place before any vehicle or driver is added to the approved list for provision of services under the School Transport Scheme. Required documentation is checked and copies are held by Bus Éireann offices. This documentation includes insurance and insurance indemnity, valid Road Passenger Transport Operator Licence (with required vehicles added), valid Certificate of Roadworthiness (CRW), appropriate valid Public Service Vehicle licence (large/small) (PSV) and evidence of Tax Clearance. Bus Éireann contracts also include a stipulation that requires all contractors to have planned maintenance programmes, with checking intervals of not more than six weeks. Every Contractor is also responsible as an individual bus operator, licensed by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, to ensure they comply with legislation in all respects.

In addition to statutory requirements, Bus Éireann arranges for additional examinations of vehicles operating under the Scheme – which are both targeted and random. These additional quality assurance checks are carried out by an independent agency on Bus Éireann’s behalf.  Circa12% of the fleet receives an extra roadworthiness check each year under this audit, which is designed to enhance the safety of the school bus services in the intervening period between annual RSA roadworthiness tests. 

The Department continues to  work in collaboration with Bus Eireann and the RSA to ensure safety remains a key priority in the operation of the school transport services.