Tony Gregory
Ceist:206 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to extend the free travel scheme for old age pensioners to include island ferries, for example the ferry to Bere Island, County Cork. [2278/96]
Written Answers - Free Travel Scheme.
The free travel scheme provides passholders with free travel on all the main bus, train and ferry services in the State, including services provided by 46 private transport companies.
Free travel is available on the ferry services between the Aran Islands and the mainland — Galway, Rossaveal and Doolin — between the islands of Sherkin and Cape Clear and the mainland — Baltimore and Schull — between Inishboffin and Cleggan and between Arranmore and Burtonport. Some of these ferry services are seasonal only.
Whenever new bus, train and ferry services are introduced they are included in the scheme, provided suitable arrangements can be made with the transport company concerned. In the case of Bere Island, an application from a ferry operator wishing to introduce a service between the island and Castletownbere is currently under consideration.