School Transport

Wednesday, 18 March 2026

Questions (599)

Erin McGreehan

Question:

599. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the review of the upper age limit of 70 years-of-age for school bus drivers; the outcome of the Road Safety Authority's examination of age limits for large vehicle drivers; and the expected timeline for decisions arising from the Department of Transport's taskforce on driver recruitment and retention, given the ongoing shortages affecting the school transport scheme. [20010/26]

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Written answers

Minister of State at 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 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 and is available on the Oireachtas website here: PAC - RSA report over 70s.

Under the 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".

There is ongoing engagement between the Department and Bus Éireann to advance this commitment as quickly as possible.