Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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141. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps he has taken to protect the all Ireland free travel scheme that allows a cardholder to travel free of charge on all bus and rail services within Northern Ireland using a senior smartpass card (details supplied) in view of Brexit and the triggering of Article 50; if he and or his officials have met with Northern Irish counterparts on this matter and other shared social protection schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8919/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The free travel scheme 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. There are currently approx. 874,000 customers with direct eligibility with an annual allocation of €80 million.

The All Ireland free travel scheme was introduced in April 2007. The scheme allows a free travel pass holder (those aged 66 and older) to travel free of charge on all bus and rail services within Northern Ireland using a senior smartpass card. Similarly, Northern Ireland senior smartpass holders (aged 65 years or older) are entitled to travel for free on services in Ireland using their existing senior smartpass card.

This is a bilateral arrangement, and does not apply to other parts of the EU.

It is important to state that the current arrangements with regard to the All-Ireland free travel scheme are not affected for some time to come. The future operation of arrangements will, of course, be determined as part of the complex process of negotiating the UK’s exit from the EU.

Clearly, a key area of concern is the impact of Brexit on the current reciprocal arrangements for social security schemes and services between Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland. This, of course, includes the arrangements for All Ireland free travel scheme.

The Government's long-term objective is to ensure that the reciprocity of civic rights which currently exist for Irish and UK citizens moving within Ireland and between Ireland and Britain under the Common Travel Area [CTA], are safeguarded and maintained. I have strongly emphasised the importance of this issue in my meetings with the UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Right Hon. Damian Green, M.P. on 2nd February 2017 and with Mr Damian Hinds, Minister for Employment, UK Department of Work and Pensions at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council [EPSCO] on 8 December 2016. In addition, as a member of the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, I will take every opportunity to protect and advance this objective as will my officials.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.