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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 May 1968

Vol. 234 No. 10

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Passports for Lourdes Pilgrims.

7.

asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will take steps to reduce or if possible to eliminate the cost to invalids and pensioners of obtaining a passport to go to Lourdes or elsewhere in view of the efforts of private charities to assist such people.

My Department has for many years past issued collective passports to groups travelling to Lourdes and elsewhere abroad at a cost per person as low as 1/7. In view of this I do not consider there is need for further passport facilities for individuals in the categories indicated especially in view of the practical difficulties of administering any such scheme.

Did the Minister appreciate the fact that what the Deputy asked about were individuals who would be travelling and who would find it difficult to pay for their passports? Does the Minister not understand that the other people who had been travelling on the pilgrimage would already have passports individually and that the group passport does not affect these people?

As I have already replied, it would be extremely difficult to administer any scheme for individual invalids or other persons. It would involve a means test and health certificates, and in the opinion of the Minister, this is not warranted at present.

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