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

-----decide that if they have a car but they cannot drive it, that they will have to get a taxi or a bus. In rural Ireland, that is not an option because if one had the money that is in the Central Bank, one could not put public transport into the nooks and corners of Kerry like the Black Valley, Gneeveguilla, The Pocket in Glenmore, Lauragh and all of those places. The money in the Central Bank would not provide such a transport service for them.

We also have a shortage of bus drivers. It takes so long to get a test and the cost is over €3,000. We asked the Government several times before to extend the limit for school bus drivers who had stopped driving at 70 years of age and we asked if they could do a medical test designated by Bus Éireann. If these people were deemed medically fit to drive, they should be allowed to drive each year at least up until they were 75 years of age because we are losing great drivers. Many bus services are not able to operate, including school bus services. Again, I say to the Minister of State that it is time for the Government to wake up and do something. Urgent action needs to be taken. Telling us that it will have things sorted out next June is a failure. There will probably be an election by then and the Government will not be accountable then because many Members of this Government, especially the Green Party Members, will be blown out of existence because that is what they deserve for the hurt they have imposed on the people of rural Ireland. The other Government Members are supporting that party just to stay in power and are aiding and abetting them to stay in power at the expense of rural people.

That is not fair and I ask the Minister of State to do something. Give them an amnesty now to let them on the road.

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