Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague, Deputy Whitmore. It is an issue we are both familiar with in our constituency, as are many Deputies across the country. I welcome, as the Deputy does, the review of the school transport scheme which came to Cabinet yesterday. It is the largest review of the scheme since its establishment in 1967. We both acknowledge there are some good things in it relating to expansion of the current eligibility criteria, current operational challenges, charges, grants and how it can move to a better integrated model of public transport over time. I know we are eager to see early wins on this in advance of the new school year. A phased implementation of the review's recommendations will now commence. Following Government approval for the publication of this, there will now be a shared effort between the Departments of Education and Transport to see how we can move forward with some aspects of this quickly. The issue of driver shortages was one we discussed. I think Bus Éireann needs to reflect on what I believe is an ageist principle with someone over the age of 70 not being allowed to drive a bus.

See this speech in context