The purpose of the free travel scheme is to encourage elderly people to remain active in the community by giving them access to spare capacity on the various public transport systems.
Time restrictions have been a feature of the free travel scheme since its inception. They are necessary on city and provincial bus routes because the transport services concerned are under severe pressure from commuters travelling to or from work or school in the morning and evening and they would be unable to cope with the additional volume of passengers arising if the restrictions did not apply.
It should be noted however that time restrictions do not apply in the case of mentally handicapped people, people attending long-term rehabilitation courses and certain other disabled or blind people. Time restrictions apply generally from 7.00 a.m. to 9.45 a.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. Monday to Friday inclusive and on Bus Éireann long distance buses from 4.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. on Fridays for up to 20 miles out from Dublin, Cork or Limerick. The removal of these restrictions would have significant cost implications for the transport companies involved who in turn would seek compensation from my Department. Time restrictions do not apply to mainline rail services including Dart, or to Bus Éireann long distance cross Border travel.
In relation specifically to Bus Átha Cliath and Bus Éireann, I understand that neither company would be prepared to lift the current time restrictions, because of the major passenger capacity constraints operating in their case at those peak times of the day.
It would not be feasible to introduce limited changes to the time restrictions in the manner suggested by the Deputy. In the circumstances, I have no plans to alter the time restrictions which currently apply in the case of the free travel scheme.
