Bus Éireann's mandatory retirement age 'nonsensical and illogical' says Ryan O'Meara TD
Driver shortage could see some school routes left vacant next September
Fianna Fáil TD for North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny, Ryan O’Meara today called for action to avoid a school transportation crisis next September.
Deputy O’Meara raised the mandatory retirement age of 70 years for school bus drivers in the Dáil today and called for Government to act as a matter of priority to avoid school bus routes being left without any driver to operate them next September.
Raising this issue with An Taoiseach in Dáil Éireann today, Deputy O’Meara said: “I believe that Bus Éireann must increase their mandatory retirement age from 70 for school bus drivers. I am being inundated with school bus operators and bus drivers contacting me in relation to this.
“There is a potential school transportation crisis looming for next September and action must be taken now to avoid it. I spoke to one bus operator yesterday who will have to refuse two routes next year in North Tipperary due to a shortage of drivers. Another operator informed me that they will have 9 mandatory retirements this year with no new drivers to take these positions.
“It is nonsensical and illogical that a bus driver can legally drive a coach of people from Malin to Mizen Head, but the same person cannot do a short school run because they are over the age of 70.
“We must take all safety precautions and mitigate risk on our roads, of course, but with annual medical tests associated with 101 licences, there is no logical reason why Bus Éireann insist on applying the mandatory retirement age of 70.”
Concluding, Deputy O’Meara said: “It must be increased to at least 73 years of age, if not 75, and I am calling for the Government to act on this in advance of the next academic year.”