Over 66s free travel pass should be extended Europe-Wide
Posted by Bronwen Maher on April 07, 2010 at 01:46 PM
The EU should provide free public transport to all senior citizens, by extending the successful Irish model to all 27 EU member states, Nessa Childers MEP has told the EU Transport Commissioner today.
"I proposed today to the new Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas the extension of free public transport for older people across the EU. Regardless of what country they come from, are living in or are even visiting, older people across Europe should have those same basic set of transport entitlements as their Irish counterparts. What better place to start than an EU-wide bus & train pass?
“This would also have the added benefit of providing older people from Ireland with the opportunity to travel extensively and inexpensively throughout Europe, something they may not have had the option to do when working full-time and rearing their families.
The Labour MEP added, “I believe there is also an argument to be made for the extension of the scheme to those in receipt of the European equivalent of Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Carer’s Allowance and Invalidity Pension as is the case in Ireland.
"The EU's work programme for 2010 released last week includes a White Paper on the Future of Transport Policy until 2020. I will fight to ensure that a free European bus and rail pass for older people is incorporated as part of that new European transport policy. This measure would also prove to be a major boost to tourism across Europe at a time when we need economic stimulus and a measure such as this would help the Irish industry enormously.
“Irish Rail and Fáilte Ireland’s joint Golden Trekker Ticket which was launched last month is a laudable initiative which provides for free rail travel for visitors to Ireland who are over 66. I would urge the Irish tourist authorities to market this project intensively in our key European tourist markets of France, Germany and Italy. Equally, this scheme should be extended to cover travel by bus as many key destinations in Ireland are not serviced by the rail network.
"Older people are a huge social asset to Europe. Their skills, experience and wisdom are a magnificent resource that needs to be harnessed and nurtured. We need an end to ageism and the beginning of a new age friendly society where older people are given the services they deserve and the opportunities necessary to contribute to getting Ireland and Europe back on track."
