Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 67: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will provide an update on the introduction of an all-Ireland free travel scheme; the latest discussions he has had on this issue; the reasons for the delay in its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37221/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

In July 1995, my Department introduced the cross-Border free travel scheme. That 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.

My Department covers the full cost of cross-Border journeys made by Department of Social and Family Affairs pass-holders. It also covers the cost of the Southern element of cross-Border journeys undertaken by Northern Ireland pass-holders.

Under its own concessionary fares scheme, the Department for Regional Development in 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 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 in Northern Ireland.

The introduction of an all-Ireland free travel scheme would further extend the existing arrangements by allowing pass-holders to take onward journeys free of change. The cost of an all-Ireland free travel scheme would ultimately depend upon the extent to which pass-holders avail of it.

My predecessor initiated discussions with the then Minister of State at the Department of Regional Development in Northern Ireland in September 2004.

Most recently, the proposed scheme was discussed at the British-Irish intergovernmental conference on 27 June 2005, and I met Mr. Shaun Woodward MP, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office, the following week, during which we discussed the introduction of a scheme.

Officials from my Department have regular contacts with their counterparts in the Department for Regional Development in Northern Ireland concerning the operation of the existing cross-Border free travel scheme. Discussions regarding the introduction of the proposed all-Ireland free travel scheme have also taken place.

Since I met Shaun Woodward MP, there have been further discussions between officials from the two sides and two meetings specifically related to the introduction of the proposed scheme have taken place; one in Dublin on 10 August and one in Belfast on 9 September last. I understand that another meeting between my officials and the authorities in Belfast is being scheduled for the next few weeks.

Examination of this proposal to date has highlighted several significant issues that require resolution before a scheme can be introduced. Those include policy, operational, financial and technical matters. My Department is working to progress those matters with relevant parties including the Department for Regional Development in Northern Ireland.