Governments considering travel smart card

The Irish and British governments are considering introducing a special smart card to enable pensioners and other groups to have free access to public transport on both sides of the border.

Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Coughlan confirmed the plan was discussed at a meeting with her Northern Ireland Office counterpart John Spellar in Belfast last Monday.

Currently, pass holders in Northern Ireland and the Republic are entitled to free cross border journeys. However they are not entitled to free travel within the other jurisdiction.

Under the plan being considered by both governments, senior citizens in Northern Ireland with a Senior Smart Pass would be able travel free within the Republic.

Holders of the Republic’s Free Travel pass would also be able to travel at no cost in internal journeys in Northern Ireland.

The Republic’s minister revealed both governments were looking at the possibility of introducing a smart card similar to one being developed by the Rail Procurement Agency in Dublin.

“Issuing these new smart cards to pensioners and other eligible social welfare client groups is scheduled to commence within the next year,” Ms Coughlan revealed.

“The use of this type of smart card may hold the key to resolving many of the administrative difficulties in operating the proposed All-Ireland Free Travel scheme on both sides of the border.

“Minister Spellar and I agreed that it would be useful to ensure that the smartcards used for public transport and concessionary travel purposes are as compatible as possible to facilitate cross-border journeys.”

Nearly 600,000 people qualify for the Republic’s free travel pass scheme.

People were are over 66 or who are under 66 and receive invalidity or blind pension, disability allowance or carer’s allowance are entitled to free travel.

Widows or widowers over 60 whose late spouses held a free travel pass are also entitled.

Senior citizens in Northern Ireland must produce identification proving they are over 65 to qualify for the North's scheme.