Concerns Over Exclusion of Special Needs Children’s Transport as Bus Éireann Extends Driver Age Limit - 26/05/2026

Bus Eireann has announced an extension to the extension to the upper age limit of drivers of small public service vehicles contracted by the company under the School Transport Scheme, from age 70 to 72.While the measure has been welcomed, Fine Gael Councillor in Dundalk Carlingford, John Reilly, feels that it doesn’t reflect the realities of special education needs school transport. The extension applies only to vehicles up to 8 seaters.Crucially it excludes 16 seat mini buses, the very vehicle most commonly used to transport children with special needs. Councillor Reilly drives a bus transporting 6 autistic children to early intervention classes on a  daily basis and is also father to a 26-year-old son who has severe autism and has relied on school transport services for a number of years.Councillor Reilly joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.