Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is another issue that affects the younger fellows, which is that drivers may get a licence to drive other types of large vehicles at 19 years of age, but that does not happen with buses. If a fellow wants to be a bus driver, he will be 23 or maybe 24 years of age.

The other issue is mechanics. I have a mechanic on to me at the present time who has the work part of his apprenticeship done with Diarmuid Brosnan in Killarney but he has been told he must wait 18 months before he can get a place in the college. He says he will not hang around for that and will go to Australia instead. Why should he wait 18 months to do a course that takes four years? He told me he wants to get going, build a house and start a family.

Maybe that is enough for now. I have only a small bit to add after that. I am especially concerned about the 70-year rule because we are losing drivers we should be able to keep.