Vol. 448 No. 3
151 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Social Welfare if free travel can be extended to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17 who is in receipt of invalidity pension and in receipt of free travel, to include peak traffic times in view of the fact that he is attending hospital appointments and incurs transport costs for both himself and spouse who must accompany him at all times: and if he will extend the scheme in this case. [1832/95]
The free travel scheme is intended to encourage elderly and incapacitated persons to remain active in the community by giving them access to spare capacity on the various public transport systems to the greatest extent possible. Time restrictions have applied to the use of free travel passes on city bus routes in Dublin, Cork and Limerick since the introduction of the scheme in 1967. This is necessary as the bus services concerned are under severe pressure at peak times in the morning and evening from commuters travelling to and from work or school. The services would be unable to cope with the additional volume of passengers arising if the free travel restrictions did not apply.
Development of the scheme in recent years has removed travel time restrictions for certain specified groups of disabled people. These include mentallydisabled people (many of whom received regular day-care) and others attending long term rehabilitation courses or certain work programmes. The person concerned does not come within these categories and is not, therefore, entitled to an unrestricted free travel pass.
