§ Mr. DowdTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are currently issued with travel passes under the concessionary fares scheme in Northern Ireland, broken down by category. [12695]
§ Mr. MossThis information is not currently available, but has been collected since July 1995 in respect of new passes issued.
§ Mr. DowdTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had, and with which bodies, over the possibility of making travel passes issued under the concessionary fares scheme in Northern Ireland valid in the Republic of Ireland and vice versa. [12696]
§ Mr. MossThere have been no discussions on this issue at ministerial level. However, officials were involved in discussions with the Department of Social Welfare in the Republic of Ireland about the establishment of the Republic's free cross-border travel scheme for senior citizens, which came into effect on 1 July 1995. That scheme entitles concessionary pass holders in either Northern Ireland or the Republic to travel free on a journey from any point within one jurisdiction to any point within the other.