Vol. 467 No. 3
49 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the permitted time of travel for social welfare recipients who qualify for free travel; when such time arrangements were put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13034/96]
96 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the measures, if any, he has considered with a view to extending the free travel scheme, in particular extending the permitted time of travel; if so, the cost involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13124/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 96 together.
The purpose of the free travel scheme is to encourage elderly people to remain active in the community by giving them access to spare capacity on the various public transport systems. Expenditure on the scheme this year will amount to some £32.7 million and benefit about 470,000 people. The question of improvements is a matter for consideration in a budgetary context.
Time restrictions have been a feature of the scheme since its inception in 1967. They are necessary on city and provincial bus routes because the transport services concerned are under severe pressure from commuters travelling to or from work or school in the morning and evening and they would be unable to cope with the additional volume of passengers arising if the restrictions did not apply. However, time restrictions do not apply in the case of mentally-handicapped people, people attending long-term rehabilitation courses and certain other disabled or blind people.
