There have been calls to remove the cut off age of 70 for drivers of school buses, in light of continuing demand for the school transport scheme and a shortage of drivers.
Thousands of drivers are needed every year to cover 10,300 routes to primary and post-primary schools across the country.
Cork driver Donal O'Leary was one of hundreds of drivers across the country carrying 172,000 children as part of the School Transport Scheme, which is operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.
"I would go back tomorrow if I could," he said.
"They were great youngsters. We used to have our little singsongs on the bus."
The issue was raised in the Seanad last week, with Fianna Fáil Senator Robbie Gallagher saying there was an inconsistency with school bus drivers retiring at 70, but drivers of private operators continuing to transport children to other activities.
"You have the ludicrous situation where you could have someone that is 70 years of age, that is not allowed to take the children to school, but that same driver could drive a private bus and take them 200 miles down the road with no issue whatsoever," Mr Gallagher told the Seanad.
Responding, Minister of State Noel Grealish said the Government intended to get an independent assessment on the impact of removing the age 70 cut off for drivers on school routes, saying it could solve the problem of driver shortages.
"We have cases where the buses are parked and we cannot get drivers," he said.
Bus Éireann said the retirement age of 70 for its drivers also applies to road passenger services.
"Our decision to operate the scheme with drivers up to age 70 is grounded in the best safety interests of our customers, including young children, our drivers and other road users," according to a statement for the company.
The company said that it consulted with the Road Safety Authority and said its current policy "balances the overarching need for safety, with the risk and the operational needs of the services provided" and said studies showed the risk of collision is increased for drivers of large vehicles over the age of 70.
The Road Safety Authority commissioned research on the safety of older people driving buses and trucks.
According to the research, older drivers reduce risk by travelling off peak, or avoiding bad weather, but school bus drivers over 70 would not have this option.
"The work environment requires you to go regardless of weather, regardless of day or light, regardless of rush hour, road conditions," said Prof Des O'Neill, who led the research carried out by the National Office for Traffic Medicine.
The report also found that morbidity and illness risk factors are at a higher level in bus drivers.
The Department of Education said that it is engaging with the Department of Transport and with Bus Éireann on the issue.
Meanwhile, Mr O'Leary said that he is ready and waiting to resume driving and would love to back driving the school bus next September.
"I miss the boys and girls, they were my friends really, to be truthful," he said.
