Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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1141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the latest update on allowing those over 70 years of age drive a school bus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42555/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.

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".

The Department is engaging with the Department of Transport and with Bus Éireann on this matter.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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1142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the up-to-date position with the provision of a school bus ticket for a student in Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42556/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.

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.

Bus Éireann is currently assessing all applications and planning for routes and services for the 2025/26 school year. Once routes have been finalised, Bus Éireann will assign tickets for each vehicle. Tickets have already begun to issue and will continue to issue throughout July and August. Families who are unsuccessful in obtaining a seat will be notified via email and a refund will issue.

Bus Eireann has advised that the pupil mentioned by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport as they reside 2.8 km from home to school and hence do not meet the distance criteria of the scheme. Bus Eireann further advise that this pupil applied and paid on time and will be issued a concessionary ticket in the coming weeks for the 2025/26 school year.