Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will support a scheme to boost tourist numbers by providing for free travel on public transport for all EU citizens over the age of 66 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36795/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The current free travel scheme operated by the Department provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators.

While the scheme is free for those who are eligible, all of the transport companies involved, including CIE, are paid for the service by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The estimated cost of the scheme in 2009 is €76.4 million. Any extension of the scheme to include other EU citizens would have considerable cost implications. Given the current economic situation, I have no immediate plans to extend the free travel scheme to British or other EU citizens in the absence of an agreed and appropriately funded EU wide reciprocal arrangement. We will, of course, continue to provide free travel for those who qualify and meet the residency requirements.