Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if public transport operators have been monitoring passenger volumes following the lifting of the free travel pass restrictions; and if extra services will need to be provided to cater for the reform. [37666/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Some 600,000 customers are in receipt of the Free Travel scheme, of which 450,000 are aged over 66 years. Some 127,000 are in receipt of an invalidity/disability payment and a further 26,000 are carers. The estimated cost of the scheme for 2006 is €58 million.

The peak time access restrictions (introduced 40 years ago) had applied on all Dublin Bus services and on Bus Éireann city services in Cork and Limerick. Other Bus Éireann services and services from other operators were available on an unrestricted basis to holders of free travel passes.

Restrictions on free travel caused difficulties for people with early morning medical appointments and for people who wished to remain active in the workforce.

At my request my Department held discussions with CIE over recent months to agree arrangements for the implementation of the Government decision in relation to the free travel peak-time restrictions. These discussions resulted in the removal of all peak time access restrictions with effect from 25th September 2006.

The lifting of all travel restrictions at peak times benefits many people, particularly older people and those with disabilities, who are now able to travel in the main cities, and surrounding areas, on public transport services at times that best suit their needs.

The ending of these restrictions removed the need for people to apply for special passes to travel during restricted times. They can now use the standard pass to attend hospital appointments, or educational, rehabilitative and therapeutic courses that are, very often, central to improving their recovery and improving their lifestyles.

Concerns were raised in certain quarters that the lifting of the restrictions would have an impact on the number of people travelling at peak times and the potential difficulties for companies in meeting all the demands for its services at these times. In order to assess the impact of the removal of the restrictions Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus have been monitoring passenger volumes since the removal of the restrictions. Dublin Bus has advised my Department that it has recorded an increase in the number of free travel customers travelling at peak times over the past month or so. Similarly, Bus Éireann has recorded an increase in the numbers of Departmental pass holders travelling in Cork and Limerick cities since the lifting of restrictions on free travel. Numbers have grown as free travel pass holders adjusted their travel patterns.

My Department is assured that any capacity issues arising as a result of additional passengers travelling at peak times will be met through the provision of additional buses as provided for under the Transport 21 initiative. Detailed discussions and arrangements for the implementation of Transport 21 are a matter between the CIE group of companies and the Department of Transport.