Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Many of our senior citizens have already survived one if not two recessions. The majority of them are living on greatly reduced incomes. Many are helping out their children who are unemployed or in negative equity as well as adult children who have had to move home. They have seen increases in private health insurance and medication costs. They have lost the telephone allowance and the death benefit. They have seen medical card issues, the property tax and now there are impending water charges. The one service they have for free, a facility that has been in place since 1967, may be under threat.

I note that the Government amendment recognises the vital role of the free travel pass in supporting elderly people and reducing isolation. The amendment also states that the Government is fully committed to supporting and retaining the free travel pass. I am pleased the debate has at least brought clarity to that aspect of the matter. However, this is not simply about free travel. It is also about the opportunities that the pass gave people who availed of it. It is also about the money that they spend at the various destinations to which they travel. The pass enables them to avail of essential services. It is also of particular benefit to those with disabilities who are included in the scheme. Last week we saw funding for two particular services cut, namely, the Irish Deaf Society and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. Both services benefit elderly citizens.

A working group was set up by the Government to consider solutions to the so-called problems associated with the scheme. There were representatives from the Departments of Social Protection and Public Expenditure and Reform, the National Transport Authority and the transport operators. Where were the representatives for senior citizens? Where were the representatives from disability groups? Many groups could have been represented but were not. There are many groups representing senior citizens, including the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament or the Irish Association of Older People. We have a vibrant docklands senior citizen community on both sides of the Liffey. It is important that the working group presents its recommendations.

The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, has been at promoting positive ageing. This possibility, whether this is scaremongering or whatever, coupled with the cuts to date do not support positive ageing. They go against what is in the programme for Government which says that elderly persons will be recognised, supported and enabled to live independently. The free travel pass enables them to do this. We should of course get the facts and sort out the fraud but there should be no threat to the travel pass. It is not a problem. In fact, it is actually a solution to many of the problems that affect elderly people and those with a disability.

See this speech in context