Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the introduction of an all-Ireland free travel scheme; the latest discussions he has had on this issue; the reason for the delay in its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23030/05]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress which his Department has made on the introduction for all senior citizens of an all-island free travel scheme. [23044/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 37 together.

The programme for Government contains a commitment to a scheme of all-Ireland free travel for pensioners resident in all parts of the island. The scheme would enable pensioners resident in Ireland to travel free of charge on all bus and rail services in Northern Ireland. Likewise, pensioners in Northern Ireland would travel free of charge on all bus and rail services in this State. I am actively examining all the issues and options related to introducing such a scheme.

In July 1995, my Department introduced the cross-Border free travel scheme. This scheme extended free travel entitlement so that free travel pass holders resident in Ireland could undertake a cross-Border journey from a point of departure in one jurisdiction to a destination in the other jurisdiction free of charge. The Department for Regional Development for Northern Ireland does not operate a similar scheme for its customers.

My Department covers the full cost of cross-Border journeys made by its pass holders as well as the southern element of such journeys undertaken by Northern Ireland pass holders. Under its own concessionary fares scheme, the Department for Regional Development for Northern Ireland covers the cost of the Northern element of cross-Border bus and rail journeys made by Northern Ireland pass holders. Some 220,000 free cross-Border journeys are undertaken each year at a total cost of €2.9 million; my Department pays €2.5 million and the remaining €0.4 million is covered by the Department for Regional Development for Northern Ireland.

The introduction of an all-Ireland free travel scheme will further extend the existing arrangements so that all free travel pass holders resident on the island of Ireland may undertake travel free of charge in all parts of the island. It is difficult to estimate the cost of the all-Ireland free travel scheme as this will ultimately depend upon the extent to which pass holders avail of it.

Officials from my Department have regular meetings with their counterparts in the Department for Regional Development for Northern Ireland concerning the operation of the existing cross-Border free travel scheme. Issues relating to the introduction of the all-Ireland free travel scheme have also been raised at these meetings.

My officials recently met with representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of the Taoiseach on 17 June 2005 in advance of a meeting of the British-Irish Inter-governmental Conference on 27 June 2005 at which the all-Ireland free travel proposal was raised. I will meet with Mr. Shaun Woodward MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office, shortly during which I will discuss the introduction of a scheme.

There are a number of policy, operational, financial and technical issues to be discussed and agreed in connection with the new scheme, including the compatibility between the travel passes used in both jurisdictions, resourcing of the scheme and the options for joint funding. My Department will continue to progress these matters with officials from the Department for Regional Development for Northern Ireland, the Northern and Southern transport companies, the Railway Procurement Agency and other relevant parties.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his Department has carried out any research into the particular barriers which older persons encounter when trying to access information; if not, the reason therefor; the barriers which were identified as a result of this research; the action his Department has taken to address these barriers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22929/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has not undertaken any specific research along the lines suggested by the Deputy regarding the information needs of older citizens. However, Comhairle, the national information agency which operates under the aegis of my Department, has recently funded the voluntary organisation, Age Action Ireland, to carry out a research project entitled "Uptake of Social Welfare Benefits by Older People". A draft report on this research project has recently been received in my Department and the findings and recommendations outlined in the report will be discussed shortly with Age Action Ireland.

The provision of comprehensive information in a clear and simple manner is an essential element in the effective delivery of social welfare services. The underlying objective of my Department's information policy is to ensure that all citizens, including older persons, are made aware of their entitlements in a timely fashion and are kept informed of changes and improvements as they occur. We continually try to ensure that there are no barriers encountered by our older citizens when trying to access information on all our social welfare schemes and services. My Department has in the recent past held customer consultation sessions with our older customers to ascertain any problems they might have in obtaining information on their entitlements. All of the customer groups concerned indicated their satisfaction at the level of information available from the Department and our dissemination methods.

The Department takes a proactive approach in advertising new schemes, together with changes and improvements to existing schemes and services, by using an appropriate mix of national and provincial media, information leaflets, fact sheets, posters and direct mailshots. We have, in the past, issued direct information booklets to all our pensioners outlining all the supports and services available to them from the Department.

Staff of the Department participate at public events promoting social welfare entitlement take up. In addition, they give talks to many organisations, including those offering pre-retirement seminars and courses, and voluntary and community groups to provide presentations on social welfare entitlements. My Department produces a comprehensive range of information leaflets, including a leaflet entitled Checklist for Pensioners, and booklets covering each social welfare payment or scheme. These information leaflets are available in a wide range of outlets countrywide, including all social welfare local offices, citizen's information centres, post offices and in a wide range of other organisations such as local community centres.

The central information services unit in my Department operates a telephone information service for the public and there is an information officer in each of the social welfare local offices around the country. Information officers are available to explain all our supports and services to our older citizens and to help and assist them in completing forms and accessing their entitlements.