asked the Minister for Social Welfare if people suffering from a variety of disabling diseases such as Downs Syndrome are eligible for free transport; if this eligibility is granted to them by means of a ticket which is stamped "Specifically in respect of their being blind or for blind people only"; if he considers this "blind ticket" to be suitable in the circumstances and if he is willing to have this regulation changed; and if he will make a comprehensive statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Free Transport Eligibility.
211.
Free travel is available to persons suffering from disabling diseases resident in the State who are blind or in receipt of an invalidity pension or a disabled person's maintenance allowance and is, of course, available to everybody aged 66 or over.
Persons entitled to free travel are issued with passes by my Department, or, if resident in one of the larger cities, by CIE. Such passes do not contain any endorsement of the kind mentioned in the question.
The Deputy may have in mind rail tickets issued to persons entitled to free travel which bear the endorsement "Old Age and Blind Pensioner". I understand that the same type of ticket is issued to all persons entitled to free travel under my Department's scheme; its purpose is merely to confirm entitlement to free travel on ticket inspection.
As free travel is not limited to old age and blind pensioners I am taking up with CIE the question of a more suitable endorsement.