The Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland's pre-budget 2026 submission is a call for fairness, common sense and strategic investment in Ireland's commercial bus and coach sector. This industry is essential. It delivers over 95% of school transport services, supports 11,500 jobs and contributes €620 million annually to the economy. It carries 75 million passengers per year, including tourists, students and rural and urban commuters, yet is undermined by outdated policies and unequal treatment.

Let us start with the unfair exclusion of commercial operators from public fare reduction schemes. This has created a two-tier public transport system. Passengers who rely on private operators, many in rural and urban areas, are denied the cost-of-living supports offered to others. It is essential that commercial bus operators are treated similarly from a competitiveness perspective. This is not the situation at present as a result of the unequal and unfair application of the 20% fare reduction scheme to customers of NTA-licensed public transport services. If this is not addressed, it will further undermine the sustainability of commercial bus operators which are already under significant pressure.

I will share some key facts. Some 80% of private operators are based outside of Dublin, serving communities with limited transport options. Some 80% of Ireland's bus fleet is privately owned and half is less than five years old, thereby meeting EU emissions standards. The sector invests €80 million annually in new vehicles. One bus can replace 30 cars, thereby easing congestion and cutting emissions. Buses have the lowest carbon footprint per passenger of any motorised transport.

Another issue is the ban on drivers over the age of 70 operating school bus routes imposed by successive Ministers. This is despite a national shortage of drivers. These individuals can legally drive children to matches or swimming lessons, just not to and from school in the morning or afternoon. This policy is not only illogical, it is discriminatory. It sidelines experienced and medically fit drivers who want to contribute and are badly needed. The Government must act now to lift this restriction and allow qualified drivers over 70 to return to school transport services.

I wish to make the Minister aware of a particular case - there are similar cases in communities throughout Ireland - namely that of the 20 to 30 children in Ballinadee, County Cork, who are eligible for school transport. The operator has no driver under the age of 70. He has a driver who is over 70 years of age and who is fully medically fit. However, that individual is not allowed drive a school bus. These children are being left on the side of the road with no way of getting to school. Budget 2026 must reflect these priorities. This is about fairness, common sense and ensuring that Ireland's transport system works for everyone.

I thank Deputy Collins for raising this important matter. Before I respond to the important and specific questions he raised in respect of the school transport scheme, it is important to put the matter in the context. In that regard, this is the scheme that, in 2024, the taxpayer funded at a cost of €512 million. In 2019, the cost was €219 million. The cost of this scheme has doubled in a short number of years, which, in terms of the rate of public expenditure growth, is way ahead of spending on many other policy initiatives across our State at the moment.

The Deputy made reference to children who were not able to access the scheme, which I will discuss in a moment. I acknowledge the number of children who are accessing the scheme. Last year, 178,000 children and families accessed the scheme. That was a 3% increase on previous years. I am not making the case that there are not issues. The Deputy raised two of them. However, I want to acknowledge that this is a big programme that offers support to over 170,000 families and children, which is why it is always a policy area of such interest to the House.

On the matters the Deputy raised, on whether drivers over 70 should be allowed to drive school buses, my understanding is that this relates to a retirement age put in place by Bus Éireann. The policy perspective is to have the retirement ages aligned between Bus Éireann and those involved in providing that service. The Road Safety Authority is preparing a report for the Department of Transport with regard to the appropriateness of that age limit for the service.

I hear many different demands in respect of the expansion of the scheme.

Some of the challenges in doing that are directly related to the fact the overall cost of the scheme has doubled in a few short years. I am certainly aware, as are the Ministers for education and public expenditure, of the need to ensure that as we make the scheme more broadly available, which I have no doubt will happen, it happens in a way that is economically sustainable such that we are able to fund the expansion of the service in the years ahead. I imagine that is playing a role in relation to bringing more operators into the scheme.

The expansion of the fare scheme to include commercial operators, specifically the inclusion of commercial operators in the free public transport initiative for the under-nines, is a must as we go forward. We cannot have a two-tier system, which will lead, if it continues, to private bus operators going out of business.

The Minister mentioned the school transport service catering for 178,000 people. However, hundreds cannot get transport services for different reasons. Sometimes, it is almost impossible to get any communication from Bus Éireann. At one time, we, as public representatives, could get a response from it. Now, we cannot get a response from the Minister or Bus Éireann. I urge that someone in the Department at least get us answers for parents who have children stranded on the side of the road.

The over-70s issue has been kicked from pillar to post. We hear it is Bus Éireann's issue and then that the Minister will not make a decision. Someone has to stand up here and make a decision, and make it quickly. This has been going on for the nine years I am in the Dáil. People over 70 years of age having a medical certificate proving their health surely should make them eligible to drive a bus and pick up many of the children who have been left on the side of the road since the beginning of this school term.

When we speak of children who are left on the side of the road, acknowledging there are issues we need to address, I emphasise to the Dáil that nearly 180,000 families and their children get support and the service they need through this scheme. This is at an overall cost to the taxpayer of more than €0.5 billion in recognition of the issues raised by Deputy Collins today and raised often by Deputies on this side of the House.

Regarding his particular point on age, I assure him that assessment is being carried out by the appropriate body, which is the Road Safety Authority. It is entirely correct that the issue be assessed from a safety perspective, which the authority is doing. One way or another, the matter will come to a conclusion. I will make sure the Ministers for Transport and education are aware this issue has been raised. It has been going on for some time. The Road Safety Authority is the right body to make a final conclusion and we will be informed by its recommendation on the matter.