A Department for Regional Development spokesperson said “The All Ireland Free Travel Scheme begins today and Northern Ireland Senior Smartpass holders will be able to use their existing Smartpasses to obtain free travel on public Transport throughout the island of Ireland.
This new scheme increases the benefits of carrying a valid Senior Smartpass and represents a real advance in the travel opportunities for older people. All senior citizens aged 65 and over should apply for a Senior SmartPass if they don’t already have one and existing SmartPass holders should check that their pass is still valid. The Department has set up a helpline on 0845 600 0049 for those that need further information.”
All senior citizens aged 65 and over, who hold a valid Senior SmartPass are now eligible to free travel on participating public transport services throughout the Republic of Ireland. Eligible senior citizens aged 66 and over from the Republic of Ireland are also able to travel for free within Northern Ireland.
Free travel is available on most services operated by the following companies within the Republic of Ireland, including:
- Dublin Bus (except Nitelink and special airport buses);
- Bus Éireann;
- Iarnród Éireann;
- DART; and
- LUAS
Notes to Editors
1. The Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares Scheme is funded and administered by the Department for Regional Development. The Scheme currently provides free travel on public transport within Northern Ireland for:
- Senior citizens aged 65 and over;
- People who are registered as blind; and
- Those in receipt of a regular War Disablement Pension.
Half fare travel is available for several groups of people with disabilities; and for children up to the 30 June of the year they turn 16 (while in compulsory education).
2. The current annual cost of providing concessionary fares for senior citizens is £9.7 million. It is estimated that the all island extension will cost an additional £1 million annually.
3. Since 1995, Northern Ireland senior citizens (aged 65+) have been afforded free travel on “point-to-point” public transport services that cross the border with the Republic of Ireland. Under this current cross border arrangement, the Government in Northern Ireland pays only for the travel within Northern Ireland of people who live in Northern Ireland. The Government of the Republic of Ireland pays for the rest of the costs. Under the terms of the new Scheme, each Government will pay for the free travel taken within its own borders.
4. Approximately 210,000 concessionary cross border journeys were taken in 2004/05. Senior citizens took 105,000 journeys from Northern Ireland and 105,000 were taken by senior citizens from the Republic of Ireland.
