A Monaghan Senator has given an update on calls for review of rules preventing people over 70 driving school buses.
Robbie Gallagher has raised this issue previously and has noted that people over 70 are not restricted doing private work.
He is noting that there is a chronic shortage of school bus drivers here and if someone is medically fit and properly qualified they should be able to continue to drive a bus.
Recently a review was undertaken by the Minister from the RSA and Bus Eireann to see what the international best practice was in this issue.
Speaking to Northern Sound Senator Gallagher explained that there were some concerns raised following the review.
"So, recently the minister undertook or requested a review from the Road Safety Authority and bus air to see what the international best practise was in relation to this cohort of over 70s and operating on school transport systems internationally. And apparently in relation to larger buses, which would be coach type buses, it was a mix that came back in relation to the safety aspect. There were some concerns in relation to safety of the passengers and indeed the driver and other road users of over 70s operating school transport.
That apparently has caused some concern. Apparently that review is not totally complete as far as I know and it's been looked at, but now they've decided now to extend that review to smaller vehicles, say typically vehicles there that would have maybe seven or eight passengers or even less. So that review now is going to cover that cohort to see what the feedback is in that regard.
So I suppose I'm disappointed initially in that there are still concerns and we can't ignore those of international best practise in relation to this particular area. I'm just not 100% sure what criteria was used in relation to that sort of how many hours per day were these"
