Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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275. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 214 of 5 February 2025, if he has engaged with the Minister of Education and Bus Éireann on the Programme for Government commitment regarding removing the exclusion of driver aged over 70 years from the school transport scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15044/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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In line with the Programme for Government commitment to 'enhance and support the delivery of a skilled workforce to maintain and operate public transport vehicles', my Department has established a Public Transport Workforce Taskforce to identify options to assist with resolving these issues.

My Department chairs the taskforce, which includes representatives from the school transport section in the Department of Education, relevant transport operators and agencies - including Bus Éireann - and training bodies.

The Taskforce will work collaboratively to identify contributing factors to the recruitment issues, and put forward recommendations and measures to create a steady supply of workers which will help address these issues.

The first meeting of the group took place in early March. The group aims to meet on a monthly basis until it produces its recommendations and fulfils the Programme for Government commitment.