Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not want older people to feel worried and scared because of a campaign for which, with due respect to Fianna Fáil and the people involved, there is no requirement. People are free to campaign on whatever they wish to campaign on. The free travel pass is safe.

The population of Ireland is aging rapidly. It is estimated that the over-65 population will rise by nearly 220,000 over the next decade to just over 800,000 in 2024. These demographic changes will pose significant social and economic challenges for individuals, families and society in general. However, such changes will also bring with them many opportunities as older people continue to make a significant contribution to all aspects of Irish life. The Government believes that the challenges can be met and the positive opportunities that arise exploited by planning now to ensure that Irish society is age-friendly in the years ahead.

Last year, the OECD published an independent and objective review of the Irish pensions system in which it was reported that the economic situation of pensioners in Ireland is comparatively good, both with respect to other age groups in the population and in international comparisons. While we would all like it to be better, one need only look North of the Border to make a comparison. The Government has sought to maintain the basic rate of State pension at 34% of the average weekly earnings. There have been significant improvements in the level of pensioner poverty in Ireland in recent years. I acknowledge the work the previous Government did on this and its commitment to the issue. While the previous Government, at the height of the difficulties to which it brought the country, froze the allocation of funds to free travel, it maintained the scheme. The scaremongering is out of place. The significant improvements in pensioner poverty are attributed mainly to substantial increases in the rates of State pensions over the period, and I acknowledge the work of the previous Government.

Last week the Department of Social Protection hosted its annual pre-budget forum. As it took place on Friday morning from approximately 8.30 a.m. until 1.30 p.m., it gave me very gainful employment while other events were unfolding elsewhere. Many of the submissions received in the Department in advance of the forum and many of the contributions at the workshops on the day referred to the free travel scheme. I went to all the workshops, as did all the senior departmental staff, in a very positive atmosphere of discussion with all the groups represented. All of the representative groups were clear in their support for the continuation of the free travel scheme, which is held in the highest regard and valued even by those who rarely use it.

It is regarded as a passport to leisure activities, time with families and, most importantly, to get to critical things like hospital and other care appointments. For some, it is a way to get to work for others to help them to attend hospital appointments. For many, it is a life-enhancing support which goes beyond the term "social inclusion".

The free travel scheme was introduced in 1967 to provide transport services to those aged over 70 who were living alone and in receipt of a social welfare pension. Owing to the range of policy changes implemented since 1967, the scheme is now universally available to all persons living in the State aged 66 and over as well as carers in receipt of carer's allowance and certain others such as those in receipt of disability allowance and invalidity pension. The effect of this broadening is that in excess of 20% of the total national population benefits from the scheme at present. The free travel scheme permits customers to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, including Irish Rail, DART, Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus, and it can also be used on the Luas and a range of services offered by up to 90 private operators. It is available for cross-Border journeys to and from Northern Ireland and customers aged 66 and over can travel for free on journeys within Northern Ireland as part of the all-Ireland travel scheme. Customers of the scheme who are married, co-habiting or in a civil partnership receive a pass that allows their spouses, civil partners or co-habitants to travel with them for free. Certain customers with disabilities or incapacities can receive a companion pass.

The cost of the scheme has risen significantly in recent years as have the numbers of people availing of the scheme. In regard to review and reform, successive governments over many years have spoken of the need for greater policy analysis, evaluation and review of expenditure not to mention the experts from the international bodies who camped in Ireland for a while but, thankfully, visit now only occasionally as we are in recovery. There has been significant investment in training for civil servants and additional recruitment of qualified analysts and evaluators. There is no apology for the carrying out of a review in relation to any area of public expenditure. Deputy O'Dea will know well that the terms of the troika agreement he signed up to required practically everything that moved in any Department to be evaluated.

The Department is spending a very significant amount of money on a new PPS card which includes a biometric photo. It is being rolled out to older people across the country and is receiving very strong support from them. If one has had occasion to see the card, one will know that the letters "FT" are marked on its face. I ask the Deputy, would we make this very significant investment in technology if we were going to do away with the scheme?

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