Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This is a scheme we have managed to protect and secure over three consecutive budgets in the teeth of the most dramatic and catastrophic collapse in its public finances that the State has ever seen. That collapse was precipitated by Deputy O'Dea's own party. Given Fianna Fáil's track record in beggaring the country, the people who depend on the free travel scheme will not accept Deputy O'Dea's groundless charge that this critical scheme is somehow under threat. The Minister put it plainly and clearly that there is no threat to the scheme.

Ireland is one of the best countries in the world in which to grow old. They are not my words, but those of the authors of a United Nations supported analysis last year, the Global AgeWatch Index. This independent analysis found that Ireland ranked 12th in the world in terms of the quality of life of older people. The review also pointed out the fact that Ireland is ranked third in the world for providing what is termed "an enabling environment". In that context, the review refers to access to public transport for older people as a critical aspect of our policy framework to secure social cohesion. It is the strength of our social support system and the way the country and its Government have utilised the social protection system to redistribute income to alleviate poverty and support those sectors of society at risk of poverty that separate us from many analogous states across the developed world. Maintaining our social welfare rates, including State pension payments and other important supports for pensioners, as we have done for the last three years in the midst of national bankruptcy, is evidence of the Government's and the Labour Party's commitment to social cohesion and the concept of a basic floor of economic and social decency.

The free travel scheme works. It does exactly what it says on the tin and represents a very important tool in combatting social disadvantage among older people, carers and those who are entitled to have companion passes. The Members opposite will know that administrative reviews of schemes take place on a regular basis but that does not amount to a threat to a scheme's existence. However, far be it from those opposite to recognise and acknowledge that they are seeking to gain a short-term political advantage by coming here and accusing the Government of placing a scheme under threat which is not under threat at all.

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