As the Tánaiste is aware, there is a shortage of bus drivers and drivers for heavy goods vehicles. This impacts on the operation of school transport services at times. Bus Éireann will not employ qualified drivers aged 70 or over. In instances where a school bus driver is off sick, Bus Éireann finds it extremely difficult to recruit a temporary replacement. There is no prohibition on a person of that age driving a bus that is not engaged in a public contract. Additional drivers are needed or we will face more problems in the next school year. I am not suggesting in any way that safety should be compromised, but surely a case could be made for a person to carry out short-term work, having undergone regular medical checks. It is an issue that should be revisited by Bus Éireann and the Department of Transport. In no way would I suggest compromising safety. There is disruption at times in the operation of the school transport service which is not tenable.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. In terms of age more generally, there needs to be more reflection on the regulatory framework governing age in terms of qualifications for things like driving because chronological age does not correspond to medical fitness or health. Someone could be aged 72 or 73 and be very fit, while someone who is aged 55 could be very unfit. Deputy Kenny is smiling at me but I think he gets my drift.

We are getting to that age.

I am a bit off it yet. I read recently that lifespan in Ireland has increased by 25 years over the past 100 years. Otto von Bismarck introduced a retirement age of 65, thinking that there would be no one alive at 65 and, therefore, pensions would not be a significant cost. We are now in a situation whereby there are people aged 75 doing marathons. We will stick to bus drivers for the time being. Flexibility should be applied and I take the Deputy's point.