Joe Sherlock
Ceist:89 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the implementation of an all-Ireland free travel scheme for pensioners. [28966/03]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Denis Naughten
Ceist:108 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the plans she has to expand the free travel scheme for the elderly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28815/03]
Damien English
Ceist:123 Mr. English asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has re-evaluated the use of vouchers for the free travel scheme. [29063/03]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:334 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the extent to which he has assisted, or intends to so do, applicants who qualify for free travel allowance but who live in rural areas not served by public transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29093/03]
John Cregan
Ceist:358 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the situation in relation to the availability and access of old age pensioners to the free bus service under Dublin Bus; if consideration can be given to allow pensioners use services before 10 a.m. under their bus pass; if exceptions can be made for early morning hospital appointments; the way in which such cases are processed and formalised; and if a 24 hour bus pass or extended pass is available. [29263/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 108, 123, 334 and 358 together.
The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over, to all carers in receipt of carer's allowance and to carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance. It is also available to certain people with disabilities and people who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
The scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as services provided by over 80 private transport operators. The vast majority of private contractors providing services under the scheme operate in rural areas. I am always willing to consider applications from licensed private transport operators who may wish to participate in the free travel scheme. However, while my Department pays transport providers to operate the free travel scheme, it is not in a position to provide transport services where none exist.
Various alternatives to the existing system, including the use of vouchers, have been examined. A study published in 2000 under the Department's programme of expenditure reviews concluded that a voucher type system, which would be open to a wide range of transport providers including taxis and hackneys, would be extremely difficult to administer, open to abuse and unlikely to be sufficient to afford an acceptable amount of travel. This position remains unchanged.
The issue of access to public transport is being addressed through the rural transport initiative, which is being managed by Area Development Management, ADM, on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport.
The free travel scheme, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland concessionary travel scheme, also 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. The implementation of an all-Ireland free travel scheme for pensioners resident in all parts of this island will require detailed discussions and agreements with the relevant authorities and transport providers on both sides of the Border. Preparatory work on this proposal will commence shortly.
With regard to time restrictions on the free travel scheme, these restrictions have been a feature since its inception. They do not, however, apply in the case of people with learning disabilities, people attending long-term rehabilitation courses or certain work experience programmes and certain other disabled or blind people. These people are issued with an unrestricted free travel pass which enables them to travel during the normally restricted travel times.
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. There are no peak time travel restrictions on DART, suburban rail services and on services provided by private transport operators in other parts of the country. Any general lifting of the time restrictions could cause capacity problems for transport operators. In exceptional or extenuating circumstances, however, 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, however, can only be considered on a case by case basis and passes are only granted in exceptional circumstances.
Significant improvements have been made to the free schemes, including the free travel scheme, in recent budgets both in terms of the qualifying conditions and the coverage of the schemes. I will continue to review the operation of these schemes with a view to identifying the scope for further improvements as resources permit.
Kathleen Lynch
Ceist:90 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the reduction of 6% in the allocation in her Department's Estimates for 2004 for non-contributory old age pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28949/03]
The reduction of 6% in the Estimate for this scheme in the 2004 Abridged Estimates volume reflects mainly the fact that the number of recipients on this scheme is reducing. The reduction in numbers is due to an increasing number of persons qualifying for contributory pensions on reaching pension age. This is due to the easing of qualifying conditions for contributory pensions and to the extension of social insurance coverage to the self-employed and public servants.