Vol. 562 No. 6
144 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will consider extending the awarding of the free travel pass to those citizens who are in receipt of Irish pensions although residing abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6809/03]
The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years, or over. It is also available to carers and to people with disabilities who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments.
The free travel scheme, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland concessionary travel scheme, provides free travel on cross-Border routes for passholders of both jurisdictions. This scheme applies to cross-Border journeys and not to travel exclusively within either jurisdiction. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to put in place an all Ireland free travel scheme for pensioners resident in all parts of this island. Implementation of this scheme will require detailed discussions and agreements with the relevant authorities and transport providers on both sides of the Border. Work on this proposal will commence as soon as possible.
There have been a number of proposals to extend entitlement for free travel to people living outside Ireland including a proposal contained in the Report of the Task Force on Policy Regarding Emigrants, which was submitted to the Minister for Foreign Affairs last year.
The Deputy's proposal, to make free travel available to persons in receipt of Irish pensions living abroad, will be examined in a future budgetary context taking account of the other demands for extension of the free travel scheme, the cost implications, compatibility with EU law, and administrative implications.
