Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason the new Senior SmartPass cannot be processed at the local social welfare branch offices in County Cork at Bandon, Castletownbere, Clonakilty, Dunmanway, Fermoy, Kinsale, Macroom, Midleton, Newmarket, Passage West, Skibbereen, and Youghal; his views on the inconvenience for elderly applicants who have to go to the social welfare local offices at Cork City, Bantry, Cobh or Mallow to have these applications processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7943/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I have recently announced the implementation of the all Ireland free travel scheme commencing on 2 April which will enable pensioners resident here and in Northern Ireland to travel free of charge on all eligible transport services on the island.

Implementation of a single travel pass for all-Ireland free travel, acceptable in both jurisdictions, will require the completion of the Integrated Ticketing project being developed under the auspices of the Department of Transport and subsequent integration with the ticketing systems in operation in Northern Ireland. My Department has on-going engagement with these bodies and projects.

Pending development of the integrated ticket system, my Department has engaged with the Department of Regional Development and Translink, the main transport authority in Northern Ireland, to put in place an interim scheme to permit senior residents of both jurisdictions to avail of free travel within the other jurisdiction.

As part of this scheme residents of this jurisdiction wishing to travel in the North will be required to use a travel card similar to smart pass as used by their Northern Ireland counterparts. Customers will need to apply for the travel pass in person and to supply photographs for authentication at their Social Welfare Local Office which is considered the most appropriate location for this service. This will be a once off transaction for customers availing of this scheme, but the level of applications will be kept under review to determine if there is a need at some future point to alter the policy.