Deputy Brian Stanley has taken to the Dail to raise an issue regarding the ban on over-70’s being allowed to drive under the school bus scheme.
Under the current scheme, the maximum age school bus drivers can be while being allowed to drive for schools is 70.
Once bus drivers hit the age they have a mandatory retirement which then leads to their job having to be replaced, however, with the current guidelines companies are finding this tough to do.
One such company is Bus Éireann who were in the Oireachtas this past week and disclosed that they were attempting to recruit more drivers to expand the scheme but under current scheme are finding it tough.
Other local constituents have spoken of worries of “major disruption” that some of the vacancies the maximum age will bring in the upcoming school year.
As the school times come to an end for the summer, Deputy Stanley raised this issue in the Dail in this time, expressing the urgency surrounding the situation.
He said: “Drivers should be able to continue working within the scheme until they are 75 provided, they pass a strict medical test and stay eyesight test annually.
“There is a difficulty as the positions are only part-time positions of three or four hours per day. It suits retired people who are on a state pension.”
A review has been carried out and completed from the Department of Transport.
The review is now complete and Deputy Stanley has expressed the urgency of the matter with only 13 weeks until the next school year begins.
The Minister for Education Helen McEntee has agreed and has assured Stanley that there is a “clear commitment” to expand the number of children who are accessing the transport scheme.
Minister McEntee communicated that her department will work closely with the Department of Transport to review if any changes can be made.
McEntee added that this could include the age limit for drivers, the size of buses or the number of children.
