Department responds to Free Travel Scheme

A CHARITY that promotes positive ageing has urged the Government not to proceed with planned changes to the Free Travel Scheme for older people.

However, the Department of Social Protection said it doesn’t envisage any changes to the benefits recipients currently receive under the scheme.

Age Action recently launched a campaign entitled

‘Hands Off Our Travel Passes’. It warned that older people would vehemently oppose any negative changes made to the scheme.

“This is a scheme which is working well and is highly valued by older people as a key support which enables them to live independently and with dignity,

? said Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins.

“Any attempt to meddle with, or water-down, the scheme would create a whole new set of problems for Ireland’s ageing population.

?

Age Action surveyed 500 of its members across Ireland who highlighted how important their travel passes were for carrying out everyday tasks such as getting their shopping, collecting their pensions, attending medical appointments, visiting family and friends, and social activities.

Significantly, without their travel passes they said they would not be able to attend medical/health appointments (57 per cent), shop (55 per cent), carry out personal journeys such as to the bank or post office (43 per cent) or visit family or friends (61 per cent).

It is also important for the domestic tourism industry with 60 per cent of older people using their pass to go on a holiday or short break.

Mr Timmins said Age Action carried out the research so that policymakers could understand the importance of the travel pass and how older people use it.

“We don’t want a repeat of last year’s budget when the Government abolished the telephone allowance for older people without realising that many used their phone for the pendant alarm service,

? he added.

“The travel pass is greatly valued by older people, who feel very strongly that it should not be interfered with.

?

A spokeswoman for the Department of Social Protection said a review of the Free Travel Scheme is currently underway and the work of the review group is expected to conclude shortly.

“The Minister will examine the report of the working group as soon as it is available,

? she told Northside People.

“However, in relation to the specific issue of recipients, the Minister has made clear she does not envisage any changes to the benefits they receive under the scheme.

“She and her colleagues in Government appreciate the importance of the scheme and the value it provides to the hundreds of thousands of mostly elderly people who use it.

“In that context, it is important to note that the scheme has been fully protected in each of the three budgets introduced by the Government, despite the need to reduce overall welfare expenditure during that time frame.

?

Meanwhile, Fianna Fail councillors, Darragh Butler and Eoghan O’Brien, who represent the Swords and Malahide Local Electoral Areas (LEA) respectively, and Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF) have pledged their support for Age Action’s campaign. In a statement, they said they would vigorously oppose any plans to negatively alter the scheme.