Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 November 2004
163 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will lift the restrictions on the use of free bus passes on Dublin Bus services in view of the fact that no such restrictions operate on the DART or Luas and in view of the reported freeing up of some peak-time capacity in the Dublin Bus fleet operating in Luas areas. [30618/04]
View answerTime restrictions have been a feature of the free travel scheme since its inception. The central issue in regard to time restrictions is that of capacity constraints and the pressure on the transport system from commuters travelling to and from work and school in the morning and evening.
Time restrictions do not apply on any transport services in the case of people with learning disabilities, people attending long term rehabilitation courses or certain work experience programmes and certain other people with disabilities or visual impairment. These people are issued with an unrestricted free travel pass which enables them to travel during the normally restricted travel times. Also, there are no peak time travel restrictions on Luas, DART, suburban rail services, and on services provided by private transport operators in other parts of the country.
I understand that any general lifting of the existing time restrictions at this time could cause capacity problems for transport operators. However, I have requested my officials to keep the matter under regular review. In exceptional circumstances, where hospital appointments cannot be arranged out of peak travel time, my Department can issue a temporary unrestricted free travel pass. Requests for such passes are considered on a case by case basis.
