Free *Cough Cough* Travel Up North !

AlekSmart

Somwhat overlooked in the Hurly Burly of the past week was the final outcome in the long running extension of the oul "Butter Voucher" scheme up North.

Yes Milords,Ladies and Members of the Gentry the Elderly of our Republic have finally had the hiways and byways of Norn Ireland thrown open to them,well those traversed by the vehicles of Translink at least.

The Southern Dept of Social and Family Affairs has all the details in a quite specifically worded press release:
http://www.welfare.ie/press/pr07/pr160207.pdf

It is indeed interesting to note that whereas some months ago the redoubtable Mr Seamus Brennan was speaking of the extension of Free Travel into Northern Ireland for Dept of Social and Family Affairs Passholders.
The Press Release and the various Ministerial Pronouncements all trumpet the extension of the scheme for those OVER 66 Only ie: those for whom the original CHJ chaperoned Free Travel scheme was intended.

It is now clear that some serious smoky back room dealing took place over the past few months and its equally clear that the Northern Ireland Office held its line on demanding a highly automated and accountable system in preference to our traditional friendly wave of a piece of coloured card.

Those DSFA customers who are over 66 MUST apply for and register their DSFA Senior Smart Pass in order to avail of Free Travel.
No Senior Smart Pass=NO Free Travel.

The redoubtable dour Northern Presbeterian desire to actually know the cost of what they were signing up for won the day.
Translink will be able to charge Seamus agus a comhairle for each and every journey made by a SeniorSmart Pass holder and provide dates,times and destinations to boot.

The Northern Pass Holders also benefit greatly by being allowed to join the ever increasing bands of new coloured cards which can be waved about under a Southern Driver/Ticket Checkers nose.

Now the really interesting bit is how the Northern Authorities quite astutely spotted the vast black hole opening up in front of them if they did`nt insist on Senior Smart Pass validation.
If,as was the original Irish Govt proposal,they had accepted a like-for-like interavailibility then some 600,000 DFSA holders would have had the potential to lay seige to Translinks services with no real accountability or supervision other than perhaps a very committed Driver or Inspector.

The Press Release also as a bit of an aside remarks that "Work is Progressing" in the Republic to replace the present Free Travel Pass with a Travel Card in order to improve Customer service and "Bring improved Security Features" :eek:

There is currently a great deal of alarm at the extent of Social Welfare spending in the Republic with todays papers reporting a figure of 3 out of every €10 of GDP going to fund Social Welfare payments.

The issue of how the current Free Travel scheme continues to grow like topsy with little firm grasp of exactly how many passes there are in existance,or how many 120 year old holders continue to use the 19A every day to get to Boles Chemist at The Barn.

Thank God that some dour Northerner was unprepared to accept that a piece of cardboard which once issued remains valid in perpetuity is Not a good idea from a fiscal viewpoint.
This is why their Senior Smart Pass is renewable every 5 years and why ALL of ther SSP`s carry an ID photo,whereas incredibly only City Slickers in the Republic are required to combine a Photo ID with their coloured cardboard.

Still it IS a good news story which explains the presence of An Taoiseach himself at the launch and since it starts on April 2nd it will be good for a few Photo Opportunities pre election.

Now we simply wait for all those OTHER categories of DFSA Free Pass holders to notice that THEY have been omitted from availing of more Freedom for their money and then the fan will start spweing smelly stuff across the room !!! :eek: :eek: