Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

No one in this room professes to be a bus expert; that is the witnesses. Surely, it belongs in the realm of medical fitness, as mentioned. That must be paramount. Perhaps a lower tachometer for someone over a certain age could be used so they can fulfil certain tasks. It seems totally illogical that someone can pull up at the school gate at 11 a.m., take a full class to swimming and bring them back safely - for example, a retiree or someone who has large vehicle experience. My dad was a retired fireman and in peak fitness. He puts me to shame. When he retired, he had his large vehicle licence and went bus driving for a while. I know of many former soldiers who have large vehicle licences. While the workforce in Bus Éireann, Go-Ahead and Dublin Bus may be below a certain age, many private operators have hired these men and women with large vehicle licences. They have a bit more time. It is in rural Ireland. They have some contractual work during the week. It seems illogical, when there was a school bus crisis, that they cannot not drive over the age of 70.

I have another question. I am trying to adhere to the rule we have for everyone. I wish to ask the CTTC about tourism travel. I have a few of the offenders in my head but I will not name them and will not even suggest who they are. There is a big problem in our iconic beauty spots like Bunratty Castle and the Cliffs of Moher, in my constituency, which were marketed globally for years. People come to Ireland to see them. Now, they are increasingly advertised as photo stops on the tour itinerary. One's tourism experience of the west of Ireland often starts with boarding a coach in Dublin, going down to a photo stop, having lunch, another photo stop and coming back up for dinner. It is hollowing out tourism. Many an analysis has been done over the past 12 months as to why tourism is failing. A lot of it is to do with hotel bedrooms being tied up with offering accommodation. That is a fact and the Government is examining that issue. A lot of it is also down to how vehicles are licensed. It is Instagram tourism. It does nothing to support the model of sustainable tourism which we want in the west. In that vein is adherence to licensed routes. Some members are given a certain licensed route to go around these tourist areas because they are safe but they say to hell with that, they will go to the area that will get better photos. It seems that too many routes are guided by photo opportunities as opposed to what is safe and good for tourism. I am not blaming any of the witnesses but will they comment on where coach tourism is at in that regard?