Cork TD suggests removal of bus driver age limit

A Cork TD has suggested removing the cut-off age for bus drivers in Bus Éireann to ensure all children can get to school in September.

Fine Gael TD for Cork North West, John Paul O’Shea, said that every year he receives calls from his constituents about difficulties getting school bus places due to a shortage of drivers, suggesting that qualified bus drivers over 70 should be allowed to work.

He told The Echo: “There are many qualified bus drivers around, currently ruled out under the school transport scheme because of their age, who would be happy to keep driving.

“This rule doesn’t apply to those driving private buses, where someone over 70 can drive children to a match or concert, but they can’t be hired to drive children to school every day.

“Road safety will always be the guiding principle when it comes to the transport of school children and teenagers, but we shouldn’t exclude experienced and medically fit drivers simply because of their age. With the high demand for school bus places and the shortage of drivers, is this not part of the solution?”

He added that getting a bus place is a huge source of stress for families, saying: “A reversal of this policy won’t solve all issues, but it could be a key part of addressing this. The programme for government commits to carrying out an independent assessment on the feasibility of removing the exclusion of drivers aged over 70 from the school transport scheme. We need this assessment carried out so we can find the best way to increase the age requirement.”

A Bus Éireann spokesperson told The Echo: “The retirement age for school bus drivers has been set by Bus Éireann at 70 years of age, which also applies to road passenger services. Our decision to operate the scheme with drivers up to age 70 is grounded in the best safety interests of our customers, including young children, our drivers, and other road users.

“Our operating experience, together with our ongoing consultation with stakeholders including the Road Safety Authority and other public transport operators in relation to Safety First is that our current policy balances the overarching need for safety, with the risk and the operational needs of the services provided.

“In acting in the best interest of the safe operation of the school transport scheme, we have also reviewed a number of external studies, which show how risk of collision is increased for drivers of large vehicles over the age of 70”.

“We are also aware of a commitment in the programme for government to conduct an independent assessment of the driver age limit. Bus Éireann continues to engage with the Department of Education and Youth and the Department of Transport on this matter.”