Whatever your feelings about Charles J. Haughey, his introduction of the Free Travel Scheme for seniors in 1968 was a praiseworthy initiative. It’s a definite perk of getting older and with the introduction of the All Ireland Free Travel Pass in 2007, there’s never been a better time to plan a trip to Northern Ireland.
The following information is from the Department of Social and Family Affairs on how to obtain your free travel pass. For further information, please check www.welfare.ie
What is the Free Travel Scheme?
If you are aged 66 or over and you permanently live in the state, the Free Travel Scheme allows you to travel for free on all State public transport (bus, rail and Dublin’s Luas service). Free travel is also available on a limited number of services that are operated by private bus transport companies.
Private bus transport operators that have opted in to the Free Travel scheme, accept free travel passes. To check whether your private bus operator accepts free travel passes, you should contact the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
Certain people with an incapacity under age 66 and who permanently live in the state may also qualify for Free Travel.
How do I qualify for free travel?
To qualify for free travel with a Free Travel Pass, you must be living permanently in the State (that is, all-year-round) and be aged 66 and over.
If you are under 66 and permanently living in the State, you will qualify for a Free Travel Pass if one of the statements below applies to you:
· You are getting one of the following payments:
- Invalidity Pension,
- Blind Pension,
- Disability Allowance,
- Incapacity Supplement or Workmen’s Compensation with Disablement Pension, for at least 12 months.
- Carer’s Allowance, (you may get a single status pass only, if you are under 66).
- A social security invalidity payment, or similar payment, for at least 12 months, from a country covered by EU Regulations, or from a country covered by EC Regulations, or from a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement.
Or
· You are a specified carer for a person getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relatives Allowance from the Department of Social Welfare (you may get a single status pass only, if you are under age 66).
Or
· You live in a Health Service Executive (HSE) approved residential care and you were previously getting either Disability Allowance (from Dept of Social & Family Affairs) or Disabled Person’s Maintenance Allowance (from the HSE).
Or
· You are blind or severely visually impaired and you satisfy the medical conditions for the Blind Pension.
· You are a widow or widower aged 60 to 65 inclusive and your late spouse held a Free Travel Pass and before their death, you lived together permanently. In this case you must be getting one of the following payments:
- State Pension (Transition) from age 65
- Widow’s or Widower’s Contributory Pension,
- Widow’s or Widower’s Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefits Scheme,
- A similar social security payment from a country covered by EC Regulations, or from a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement.
- An ordinary Garda Widow’s Pension from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
How do I get a Free Travel Pass?
You will get a Free Travel Pass automatically at age 66 if you are getting a pension from the Department of Social and Family Affairs and permanently live in the State.
If you are under age 66 and permanently live in the State you will get a Free Travel Pass automatically when you are awarded an Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension, Disability Allowance or Carer’s Allowance.
In all other cases, you must apply for a Free Travel Pass by completing application form FT1. You can get an application form:
· On the Internet at www.welfare.ie
· From your local Social Welfare Office or
· By telephoning the Department’s LoCall Leaflet Request Line at 1890 20 23 25 (from the Republic of Ireland only)
Send the completed form with any required documents to:
Free Travel Section,
FREEPOST,
Social Welfare Services,
College Road,
Sligo.
Telephone:
LoCall 1890 500 000 (from the Republic of Ireland only)
Or
+353 71 9193315 (from Northern Ireland or overseas).
Can anybody join me when traveling?
If you have a free travel pass and you are married or cohabiting (that is, living with a man or woman as husband and wife), you are entitled to a Free Travel Pass which allows your partner to accompany you free of charge when traveling. (This does not apply to person's under age 66 who are in receipt of Carer’s Allowance or who are nominated carers for people getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relatives Allowance from the Department of Social and Family Affairs).
In addition, some people who are unable to use the pass because they are unable to travel alone may get a Companion Free Travel pass. This allows the holder to be accompanied by any person over 16 years of age, free of charge.
If you wish to apply for his type of pass you should contact the Free Travel Section.
When Can I Use my Free Travel Pass?
You may use your Free Travel Pass on the transport services listed below at any time:
· Dublin Bus (except Nitelink and special airport buses)
· Bus Éireann (city services)
· Bus Éireann (long distance services)
· Iarnród Éireann
· DART
· LUAS
· Certain private bus and ferry services
· Certain cross-border services between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
If you are permanently living on any of the Aran Islands, you may get up to 12 single (or 6 return) air trips each year between the islands and the mainland. People who live permanently on Tory Island (Co. Donegal) are entitled to 8 (or 4 return) free journeys on the seasonal helicopter service operating between the island and the mainland.
How do I Use my Free Travel Pass?
To travel for free, you must always show your Free Travel Pass.
If traveling with Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann or on private bus services:
· You must show your Free Travel Pass to the bus driver when boarding the bus. You do not need a bus ticket to use these services.
Before using Iarnród Éireann mainline, DART or Outer Suburban services:
· You must show your Free Travel Pass at the ticket-booking desk in the train station and get a free rail ticket. If you are making your return journey on the same day, you will get a DAY Return ticket. In all other cases, you will get a single journey ticket. You will have to get another single ticket before making your return journey.
(Note: you cannot use your Free Travel Pass on First Class or Super Class travel on any service unless you pay the correct fare supplement).
Where can I get more information?
· On the Internet at www.welfare.ie
· From your local Social Welfare Office or
· By telephoning the Department’s LoCall Leaflet Request Line at 1890 20 23 25 (from the Republic of Ireland only)
You can also write to:
Free Travel Section,
FREEPOST,
Social Welfare Services,
College Road,
Sligo.
Telephone:
LoCall 1890 500 000 (from the Republic of Ireland only)
Or
+353 71 9193315 (from Northern Ireland or overseas).
