Martin Ferris
Question:20 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress which has been made on a European wide pensioners free travel pass. [37303/05]
View answerThursday, 1 December 2005
Questions (34, 35, 36)
Emmet Stagg
Question:46 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if free travel will be granted to Irish citizens of pensionable age living in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37008/05]
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Joe Costello
Question:47 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress to date in 2005 with regard to his consideration of the logistics of allowing Irish senior citizens in Britain to have access to free travel when they return on visits here; if he is close to finalising details for such a proposal; the timeframe for its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37201/05]
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 46 and 47 together.
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. It applies to travel within the State and cross-Border journeys between here and Northern Ireland.
There have been a number of requests and inquiries in relation to the extension of entitlement to free travel to Irish born people living outside Ireland, particularly in the UK. This issue has now been examined in considerable detail. While the legal advice available to me is that such a proposal would be contrary to the EC treaty, which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of nationality, I have continued to explore all options with a view to making progress.
With regard to the introduction of a European wide travel pass, as far as I am aware, there are no proposals being worked on at EU level in relation to a common travel framework. Any such proposals would have significant financial and administrative implications and, in the light of the variety of arrangements which currently apply, there would be major practical problems in implementing arrangements of this kind.
The issue of a senior euro pass card, which would entitle older people to concessions on various services including travel, cultural and social activities, was raised in a report commissioned by the EU Commission some years ago but no proposals in this regard were brought forward subsequently.
Question No. 21 answered with QuestionNo. 7.