asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that persons living in Ireland who are in receipt of a British invalidity benefit, are not entitled to free travel, as is the case with those people who are in receipt of an Irish invalidity pension or a disabled person's maintenance allowance from a health board; if he proposes, in the interests of the harmonisation of social welfare policy and for the benefit of recipients of the British invalidity benefit living in Ireland, to make available to them the same free travel rights as are available to recipients of an Irish invalidity pension or a disabled person's maintenance allowance.
Written Answers. - Free Travel.
251.
Under the free travel scheme a person living in this country who is in receipt of British invalidity benefit is entitled to free travel if aged 66 or over. Free travel was extended from 1 April 1977 to recipients under 66 years of invalidity pension from my Department or of disabled person's maintenance allowance from a health board but not to British invalidity pensioners under 66 who are living here. The question of further extensions of the scheme is a matter for consideration in the context of the reviews of such schemes which are carried out from time to time in my Department.