Michael Bell
Question:42 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to extend free travel to cover those in receipt of retirement pension.
Written Answers. - Free Travel Scheme.
The free travel scheme operated by my Department is available to all people living in the State who are aged 66 years or over as well as to certain incapacitated persons under that age who are in receipt of social welfare type payments in respect of incapacity such as invalidity pension or the disabled person's maintenance allowance administered by the health boards. There are no plans at present to extend the free travel scheme to other categories of social welfare recipients, such as those in receipt of retirement pension.
I might mention that one of the improvements announced in last January's budget allows widows between the age of 60 and 65, whose late husbands had entitlement to free travel and the other free schemes, to retain entitlement to them notwithstanding their age. Any proposals for further extensions to those schemes would require additional resources and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.