Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the up-to-date position on her engagement to date with the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann to increasing the upper age limit of drivers for school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31163/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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As you are aware, the School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. In the current school year over 173,000 children are transported daily in approximately 8,200 vehicles across 10,600 routes to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

The retirement age for school bus drivers has been set by Bus Éireann at 70 years of age, which also applies to all Bus Éireann road passenger services.

The policy and criteria also apply to drivers nominated by private operators who operate services as part of the School Transport Scheme, provided they hold the requisite license and satisfy an annual medical examination until they retire at age 70.

The Road Safety Authority, under the remit of the Department of Transport, committed to reviewing the upper age limit of drivers as it relates to larger vehicles/school buses. This review is now complete.

Under the new Programme for Government, a commitment has been made to "Carry out an independent assessment on the feasibility of removing the exclusion of drivers aged over 70 from the School Transport Scheme".

I am currently engaging with stakeholders to agree the parameters of the independent assessment. I would hope this work commences before the end of the year.

More broadly, we are addressing recruitment challenges across the sector. A national recruitment campaign is underway, supported by targeted social media.

A cross-Departmental Taskforce, led by the Department of Transport and involving my Department, Bus Éireann and ETBI is also working to identify solutions to driver recruitment and retention challenges.

I am committed to working to achieve the recommendations of School Transport 2030 of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030, and to continue to improve the scheme to that it provides a valuable service for those families who rely on it, while providing value for money to the Exchequer.

As you are aware, the School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. In the current school year over 173,000 children are transported daily in approximately 8,200 vehicles across 10,600 routes to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

The retirement age for school bus drivers has been set by Bus Éireann at 70 years of age, which also applies to all Bus Éireann road passenger services.

The policy and criteria also apply to drivers nominated by private operators who operate services as part of the School Transport Scheme, provided they hold the requisite license and satisfy an annual medical examination until they retire at age 70.

The Road Safety Authority, under the remit of the Department of Transport, committed to reviewing the upper age limit of drivers as it relates to larger vehicles/school buses. This review is now complete.

Under the new Programme for Government, a commitment has been made to "Carry out an independent assessment on the feasibility of removing the exclusion of drivers aged over 70 from the School Transport Scheme".

I am currently engaging with stakeholders to agree the parameters of the independent assessment. I would hope this work commences before the end of the year.

More broadly, we are addressing recruitment challenges across the sector. A national recruitment campaign is underway, supported by targeted social media.

A cross-Departmental Taskforce, led by the Department of Transport and involving my Department, Bus Éireann and ETBI is also working to identify solutions to driver recruitment and retention challenges.

I am committed to working to achieve the recommendations of School Transport 2030 of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030, and to continue to improve the scheme to that it provides a valuable service for those families who rely on it, while providing value for money to the Exchequer.