Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 736: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on devising a scheme whereby persons close to reaching the age of 65 who require a new passport do not incur the full fee of €75 for a new 10 year passport in view of the fact that they would be entitled to the passport free gratis on reaching their 65th birthday. [1107/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In 2005, the Government decided that, building on the existing free transport, television licence, phone and electricity schemes for older people, passports should also be available free to persons aged 65 and over. This attractive scheme was widely and warmly welcomed. The reality is that, for a scheme such as this to work satisfactorily, there clearly has to be a fixed starting date and fixed qualifications for persons to benefit under it. In addition, and unless a passport holder has immediate travel plans, new passports do not have to be applied for on, or be valid from, the date when the previous passport expired. In view of the above, I do not consider that it is necessary or appropriate to make any changes to the scheme.