James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to speak on this motion. The free travel pass scheme is valued by everyone and I appreciate its importance and value to the 780,000 people, mostly elderly, who use it. Fianna Fáil is blatantly trying to scare older people by issuing completely inaccurate statements about the threat to the free travel pass. Despite assurances and confirmation from the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste that the Government taking away the free travel pass scheme is not on the agenda, Members opposite are determined to whip up fear on this issue. The scheme is important to our senior citizens so that they are fully empowered to engage with society. I agree with Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett that we must examine the subventions given to private operators in rural areas.

The free travel scheme, along with the rural transport scheme project, has proved to be a wonderful success story. It has created a lifeline to many in addressing social exclusion in rural areas. The value of the free travel pass in rural areas is one of the issues highlighted by my constituents. The issue has emerged not because of any suggested change in Government policy but as a result of a pre-budget submission released by the lobby group Age Action Ireland explaining the impact of cuts by the previous Fianna Fáil-led Government on the lives of older Irish people. A Fianna Fáil-led Government cut the universal entitlements enjoyed by many older people, such as free medical cards, age-related tax credits and other key support and services to older people. A Fianna Fáil-led Government cut the energy schemes that left many older people with fuel poverty problems. In budget 2010, Fianna Fáil cut the widows, blind and invalidity pensions, as well as the disability allowance by over €8 per week. It also cut the rate of carers allowance in budget 2010 by €8.50 per week. Fine Gael has protected older people in crisis and will continue to do so.

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