---
title: Last Stop for over 70s Bus Drivers is unfair - Councillor Dempsey
description: FF
---

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# [Last Stop for over 70s Bus Drivers is unfair - Councillor Dempsey](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/last-stop-for-over-70s-bus-drivers-is-unfair-councillor-dempsey)

 Written by [Fianna Fáil](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/author/fianna-fáil) | 11 October 2024

The mandatory retirement age of 70 for Bus Éireann drivers must be reviewed, as it discriminates against people who are capable of providing a valued service, according to Aisling Dempsey, a Meath County Councillor.

 

She said: *"I have been contacted by several people just this year about the unfairness they feel about not being able to continue being a bus driver past their 70th birthday.  *

 

"*These people are perfectly fit, healthy, medically assessed and licensed to drive a bus and yet they cannot, due to a one size fits all policy from Bus Éireann that means once somebody is 70 years old, they are deemed unfit to drive.  *

* *

*"If Bus Éireann's assessment systems are good enough to determine if someone in their late sixties can drive; surely they can make this assessment for 70 plus year olds. At a time when we need more bus drivers, not less, it would be smarter to use their current assessment system to determine those over 70s that can continue to drive.*

 

"*This policy is not only bluntly ageist, it also further worsens the ongoing bus driver shortage which is a nationwide issue as well as here in Meath."*

 

Dempsey said she contacted Bus Éireann about the policy. In their response they said they have *"no plan to increase the age limit." *

* *

Bus Éireann also said they recently reviewed their Driver’s Minimum Age requirements and reduced the Minimum Age from 23/24 to 21. 

 

Dempsey said reducing the minimum age requirements, while keeping the mandatory retirement age of 70, is unfair.

 

She said: *"I am calling for the mandatory retirement age of 70 to be reviewed.  If the minimum age can be reduced by several years, the retirement age can be changed.  *

* *

*"In the UK there is no upper age limit, just continuous assessment of drivers and bus driving has become a popular post retirement job there. Adopting this model would maintain safety levels and allow competent drivers to continue to contribute, whilst helping our communities."*

* *

**-ENDS-**

[View full post](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/last-stop-for-over-70s-bus-drivers-is-unfair-councillor-dempsey)

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