I welcome the Government's decision to review and revise the regulation on eligibility for school transport. The bus pass travel scheme has been a shambles for years. The scheme is not fit for purpose and needs a radical overhaul. From my experience across Tipperary, the scheme is riddled with anomalies and inconsistencies.

The rigid interpretation of rules and regulations has deprived hundreds of children of access to school transport. Refusal to grant a bus pass causes embarrassment and inconvenience and places a financial burden on parents struggling with the cost of living. Every September we have chaos, with a scramble for tickets which, in many cases, across Tipperary and the country, becomes divisive and contentious.

Also, the chronic shortage of professional bus drivers is an established contributor to the sufficient provision of places on school buses. It is inexplicable that a qualified bus driver over 70 cannot drive a school run but the same driver can travel with a private bus throughout Europe. This nonsense must stop. We need these drivers in rural Ireland to allow bus providers maintain a service. Standing down healthy qualified experienced careful drivers is illogical. It is an outdated ageist policy by Bus Éireann that should and must be scrapped.

When does the Tánaiste expect a report from the review?

First, the review on school transport that the Minister, Deputy Foley, published represents the most comprehensive reforms of the school transport system since the State was founded. I pay tribute to the Minister in getting this through Cabinet. Obviously, there will be an implementation phase. All of us are familiar with the anomalies, rows, disputation and challenges facing families that occur in different locations on an annual basis. The review is designed to put an end to that and it will need increased allocation. The Minister is talking about some pilot schemes in the autumn in relation to some aspects of the implementation of the review but I will ask the Minister to revert to the Deputy. One should bear in mind that we have brought in the free primary books scheme up to junior certificate level, which is beneficial.

I thank the Tánaiste.

On the qualified bus driver over 70, we are discussing that at Cabinet. The suggestion now is perhaps that an independent medical-----

We are over time. I thank the Tánaiste.

-----review could enable us to unblock what has been the position that CIÉ has taken in respect of not allowing over 70s. I take the Deputy's point.