Government looking at allowing over 70s to drive school buses amid shortage of drivers

Education Minister Norma Foley said there were 'difficulties' in attracting people to become bus drivers, but this was due to Ireland’s full-employment status.

The Government is examining whether or not to allow people over the age of 70 to drive school buses, Education Minister Norma Foley has said.

Ms Foley said Transport Minister Eamon Ryan is to commission a report, saying it would “look specifically at that area of providing opportunities going forward perhaps for those who are over 70”.

Currently, Bus Éireann does not permit people over the age of 70 to become a drivers on the school transport scheme.

Ms Foley said the policy was being kept under review by Bus Éireann and other efforts were being made to attract additional bus drivers to deal with the shortage at present.

“I’ve seen specific campaigns being targeted at women who might like to take up that opportunity. I know work has been done also with the Department of Enterprise in terms of [work] visas being provided for,” Ms Foley added.

She said there were “difficulties” in attracting people to become bus drivers, but this was due to Ireland’s full-employment status.

It comes as Ms Foley launched her review of the School Transport Scheme, which was approved by Cabinet earlier on Tuesday.

Under the new plans, thousands more children are set to become eligible for school transport, but a series of pilot schemes will be held before the proposals are rolled out countrywide.

Prices for tickets are set to remain the same, with ticket fees for primary school students to remain at €50, while secondary school students will still pay €75. The maximum ticket fee for a family remains at €125.

Currently, primary school students must live at least 3.2km away from their school to qualify for a place on a bus. This is set to drop to 2km and then further to 1km.

Education Minister Norma Foley's review of the School Transport Scheme was approved by Cabinet earlier on Tuesday.

For secondary school students, they must live 4.8km away from their school to be eligible for a ticket. Under the changes, this will fall to 2km away. However, this will not apply in urban areas where public transport is more readily available.

The pilot projects will focus on secondary pupils travelling to schools on a mix of traditional school bus transport, public bus routes and reducing the distance criteria.

The overall scheme will be introduced on a phased basis between now and 2030, with the first changes to come in during the 2025/2026 school year.

It recommends expanding the access to the scheme to allow an additional 100,000 students avail of a bus to school.

This is set to increase the cost of the scheme from €444m now to €672m by 2030. However, Ms Foley said if the Government were to do nothing with the scheme, the cost would be higher at €678m.

Asked about this, she said: “The system is a standalone school transport system. It doesn’t integrate in any shape or form with public transport, in other words, with services that are already running.”

She added money would be saved through the elimination of duplication.

Ms Foley said during consultation, parents of children with disabilities sought the opportunity to allow their children travel on the mainstream bus service if they choose.

She said this will be an option, but the dedicated special school transport scheme would remain in place.