Jim O'Keeffe
Question:31 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he envisages a role for his Department in spearheading a campaign for the introduction of a Euro pass. [26548/01]
Written Answers. - Euro Pass.
In September 1999, the Deputy submitted a report to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Family Affairs based on the report, Towards a Senior Euro Pass, which was commissioned by the Social Affairs Directorate of the European Commission and undertaken and published by Age Concern, England at the end of 1997. The Age Concern report recommends that EU states should establish a senior Euro pass card which would entitle older people to concessions on various services including travel, cultural and social activities. The role of my Department in matters relating to the senior euro pass has been to submit observations, as required, in conjunction with other Departments and statutory and non-statutory bodies on any action taken to implement the proposals in this report, in so far as they affect the business of this Department. While the introduction of a senior euro pass would be a welcome addition to the very generous travel and other concessions our older citizens already enjoy within the State I understand that further work on this issue has been suspended at EU level. As I have previously informed the Deputy, I consider the design and administration of such a scheme to be outside the remit of my Department.