Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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357. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the status of the independent assessment on the feasibility of removing the exclusion of drivers aged over 70 from the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35601/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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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 will be engaging with the Minister for Transport and with Bus Éireann to ensure that this is advanced.