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Gnáthamharc

Free Travel Scheme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004

Tuesday, 23 March 2004

Ceisteanna (636)

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

634 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her Department will address the problem whereby persons in rural areas, who are the holders of free travel passes, cannot access local scheduled or national bus or train services, by the immediate introduction of a travel voucher system that can be used for taxi services to reach access points for scheduled travel services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9047/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over. It is also available to all carers in receipt of carer's allowance and to carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance. Certain people with disabilities and people who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments can also avail of it.

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. The underlying feature of the scheme is the use of spare capacity on these transport services.

I am always willing to consider applications from licensed private transport operators who may wish to participate in the free travel scheme. 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, that would be open to a wide range of transport providers including taxis and hackneys, would be extremely difficult to administer. It would be open to abuse and unlikely to be sufficient to afford an acceptable amount of travel. The position remains unchanged.

At present the issue of access to public transport in rural areas is being addressed through the rural transport initiative. It is managed by Area Development Management on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport.

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.

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