Mr. Brendan Crowley:

Generally, it will take a number of weeks to train somebody to drive a coach because there is more than just driving. It is all about the safety and other elements. The core driving elements can be taught in around 16 to 20 hours. It is really learning the size of the vehicle as opposed to how to drive again, because people already have a driving licence. One of the big problems for us at the moment is the uncertainty around the driver testing and qualification process. For instance, in my own business, we have hired people in recent weeks as trainee drivers. We train them to drive, we apply for driving tests and we have no idea when they will see a driving test. There is no certainty in the system that will say the test will come in three weeks, four weeks or whatever. Even when people complete the driving test, they then have to wait until a licence and driver certificate of professional competence, CPC, card are issued. That could be many weeks more. Many small or medium-sized operators are not in a position to take on a lot of extra staff who will be essentially non-productive for a number of months because the process is not quick enough to manage that.