asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider allowing free travel between 4.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. on all buses travelling towards Dublin city centre for those persons otherwise entitled to travel free of charge.
Written Answers. - Free Travel Scheme.
511.
The arrangements with CIE for the operation of the free travel scheme are based on providing the service during off-peak hours. CIE provides an integrated bus service in Dublin city in which buses from the outskirts travel to the centre and from there to outlying districts on the other side. There is no obligation on passengers to leave a bus at city centre stops and the journeys of very many undoubtedly go through the city centre to varying points on the outgoing stage from the centre on the other side. An alteration of the arrangements on the lines suggested by the Deputy would be impractical and would radically alter the nature of the free travel scheme. It would also involve considerable additional costs to the Department of Social Welfare and would have to be extended, at least, to other major cities. There are no plans for such an alteration at the present time.