The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.
The scheme is operated using a mix of Bus Éireann owned vehicles and directly recruited drivers, and private contractors who recruit their own drivers to operate on the scheme.
In the current school year, over 181,000 children are transported daily to primary, post-primary and special schools throughout the country. Included in this figure is close to 25,000 children travelling on the school transport scheme for children with special educational needs.
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.
Under the Programme for Government, a commitment was 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 of Education and Youth engaged with Bus Éireann and the Department of Transport on this matter.
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. Bus Éireann has no plans to amend the driver age limit for larger vehicles.
To fully consider all vehicles, Bus Éireann secured independent external consultants to undertake an independent analysis of the safety considerations, criteria and feasibility of raising the maximum driving age of drivers of small public service vehicles contracted to deliver school transport services under the School Transport Scheme.
The review of the upper age limit of drivers as it relates to smaller vehicles has now been completed. Following this review, Bus Éireann has advised of an extension to the upper age limit of drivers from age 70 to 72, for a trial period. This extension will apply to drivers of small public service vehicles (max 8 seats and driver), who are contracted by Bus Éireann under the School Transport Scheme.
Bus Éireann further advise, this decision follows extensive research, stakeholder engagement and a thorough safety review undertaken by Bus Éireann.
The trial period for this extension of the driver age limit is for two years, beginning from the start of the new school year in September 2026 and ending at the conclusion of the 2027/2028 school year in June 2028.
Under the revised policy, enhanced safety measures will be implemented whereby drivers over 70 years are required to undertake an additional 6-month medical fitness assessment. Contractor compliance with conditions associated with the change to this policy will be monitored by Bus Éireann for the duration of the trial.
Bus Éireann advise that this policy change will remain under continuous review throughout the two-year trial period, with a further evaluation conducted at its conclusion to determine whether the extended age limit should be maintained or discontinued.
The safety, care and protection of school children travelling on school transport services is equally of paramount importance to the Department and Bus Éireann.
More broadly, Government is addressing recruitment challenges across the sector. Bus Éireann regularly advertise for contractors to provide school transport services.
A cross-Departmental Taskforce, led by the Department of Transport and involving the Department of Education and Youth, Bus Éireann and Education & Training Boards Ireland engages regularly.
The aim of the taskforce is to work collaboratively to identify contributing factors to the recruitment issues and put forward recommendations and measures to create a pipeline of workers to address these issues.
