Mr. Tomás Ó Ruairc:

The roll-out of the pilots is very much a phased implementation. It was decided at the outset and approved by the Government in School Transport 2030. There were 14 pilots in the last school year, which will run on into next year. We are working to see where this can be grown, in line with available resources and as part of the Estimates and budget process. It also depends on the availability of drivers and fleet in the areas we identify for pilots. We are in receipt of data, as is the Deputy, regarding potential areas. We look at all of that in the round and see what can be done in the next school year.

Regarding the removal of the ban on over-70s, Mr. Kent might want to add a bit on this in terms of the work Bus Éireann has done. There is the report for the RSA, done by Professor Desmond O'Neill, an expert in the area, on the website of the Committee of Public Accounts. This notes that a number of risk factors have to be taken into consideration. The task force established by the Department of Transport and our own working group will look at the broader opportunities and challenges in relation to driver supply. We have to look across the age groups in making sure as much as possible that we not only maximise the supply of drivers, but also that they actually take up employment and drive buses. Does Mr. Kent want to add to that regarding the work of Bus Éireann in terms of the review so far?