Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason employment offices such as Maynooth do not receive or process smart pass applications but instead insist applicants go to Ballyfermot which is costly and inconvenient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15133/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The all Ireland free travel scheme commenced on 2nd April 2007. The scheme enables pensioners resident here and in Northern Ireland to travel free of charge on all eligible transport services on the island.

The scheme extends the existing cross-border free travel arrangements by allowing pensioners over the age of 66 and resident here to travel free of charge on all bus and rail services in Northern Ireland. Likewise, pensioners in Northern Ireland can travel free of charge on transport services in this State.

Implementation of a single travel pass for all-Ireland free travel, acceptable in both jurisdictions, requires 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 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 can use a travel card similar to the smart pass used by their Northern Ireland counterparts. Customers need to apply for the travel pass in person and supply photographs for authentication at a Social Welfare Local Office rather than a Branch Office such as Maynooth. Local Offices were chosen to administer the scheme as they are considered most suitable for applying the required levels of control. As this is a once-off transaction customers need make only one visit to their Local Office, the smart pass card is posted direct to the customer's home address.

Since the scheme commenced in April there have been more than 11,000 applications received. My Department is still familiarising itself along with our Northern Ireland counterparts are monitoring the operation of the scheme to ensue that the most appropriate and efficient arrangements are in place to deal with applications.