Vol. 481 No. 7
221 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the options, if any, open to persons (details supplied) in County Donegal in receipt of free travel passes in rural areas who have no bus service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17207/97]
The purpose of the free travel scheme is to enable people aged 66 years or over as well as certain incapacitated people to travel free on public transport and certain private buses and ferries.
There are currently two private transport operators who already provide bus services for free travel passholders in the general area referred to. In May 1997, officials from my Department met the general manager of one of the local bus companies which sought to extend services to include locations not directly covered by the existing bus routes. The proposal was subject to full funding of all the operational costs as the company did not consider it commercially viable to operate a service on these additional routes. My Department was unable to agree to this request which would fundamentally alter the scope of the scheme.
Since its inception in 1967, transport operators who participate in the free travel scheme are paid on a commercial basis for actual travel undertaken by passholders at the normal fare value less a volume discount in recognition of the extra business generated by the scheme.
My Department is concerned to ensure that people entitled to free travel under these arrangements are facilitated within the context of the scheme. To that end consideration will be given to the inclusion of new services and extensions to existing ones provided they come within the terms of the scheme.
