asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider extending the free travel scheme to husbands and wives under 70 years of age or to eligible spouses even though they do not accompany the pensioners.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Travel Scheme.
24.
Further extension of the scheme on the lines suggested by the Deputy is not contemplated.
25.
Mr. O'Leary
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he will arrange a free travel scheme for the old age pensioners in the Béara Peninsula, West Cork, who must travel 30 miles, at their own expense, to Glengarriff to obtain CIE transport.
The old age pensioners in the Béara Peninsula have had free travel facilities provided by a private bus operator plying between Castletownbere and Bantry via Glengarriff since 8th February, 1971. An advertisement regarding the operator's participation in the free travel scheme was inserted in the Cork Weekly Examiner and the Southern Star during the week commencing Monday, 8th February, 1971.