Free travel passes not to be touched in budget - Minister Burton

Hilly Bill

n97 mini wrote: »

Seriously?

"How far away do you live?"
"Two hours"
"Are you on a FTP?"
"Yes"
"Ok, your appointment is for 2pm on......."

"How far away do you live?"
"Two hours"
"Are you on a FTP?"
"No"
"Ok, your appointment is for 9am on......."

"How far away do you live?"
"10 mins"
"Are you on a FTP?"
"Yes"
"Ok, your appointment is for 10am on......."

"How far away do you live?"
"10 mins"
"Are you on a FTP?"
"No"
"Ok, your appointment is for 9am on......."

If only it was that easy to get an appointment.

n97 mini

Hilly Bill wrote: »

If only it was that easy to get an appointment.

Medical card......

Gatling

Seriously what planet do you think that would actually work ,

In the real world planet earth ,
Island of Ireland

100's and in cases thousands of people expected to wait be given hospital and Dr appointment's based off a time table for a travel pass ,
Now I've personally had to wait over 4 years to see a specialist due to 2 degenerative diseases now if I had to wait for that appointment based off a off peak time to use Ft pass I'd probably be dead and buried a long time while waiting for my 10 am appointment to come around

starlit

Its only fair for pensioners and disability that free travel pass in place not everyone drives or have good health to do so.

BuffyBot

n97 mini wrote:

Seriously?

"How far away do you live?"..

Not even remotely realistic, or workable.

Anyway as this appears to be descending into the same old cycle of arguments, with little new being brought to the table I'm coming close to calling time on this thread unless something original is brought to it.

Gatling

As it actually stands the process of sorting the ftp mess has started with the new cards we will hopefully see and improved system and a lot less fraud ,

Cookie_Monster

doovdela wrote: »

Its only fair for pensioners and disability that free travel pass in place not everyone drives or have good health to do so.

explain how it is fair that they receive free rather than subsidised travel, especially when you take into account all the myriad other payments and benefits received.

Conflats

Would a reform of the Free travel pass not be better,

i.e make it electronic something like a leap card kind of system where is has to be scanned all the time and say limit its use that way.

Now I dont believe the pensioners should be targeted as they have done there bit for society

the only ones who should have one are the disabled, terminally ill and pensioners anyone else tough luck and deal with it go find a way. If your unemployed you should say be given a pass that is valid for 1 day kind of thing and you have to collect in the local social welfare office to get you to from a job interview that you can only get if you present proof you need one.


Yes it might lead to less money going to C.I.E and other operators who run routes as part of the FTP scheme, but overall its not about keeping them afloat its about saving money in a very generous welfare society

Owryan

I dont get why people think pensioners should get one automatically

Gatling

Owryan wrote: »

I dont get why people think pensioners should get one automatically

Probably down to the presumption that they help built this country and worked all the lives and paid taxes so asking them to pay for bus and train fair on there state pension is snt right , plenty of pensioners that haven't worked a day in there lives ,and plenty of pensioners have more than one pension to live off and yet they (most) claim poverty and hardship

n97 mini

BuffyBot wrote: »

Not even remotely realistic, or workable.

In your opinion. Proper scheduling and planning software would make it workable, in my opinion.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

OldNotWIse

Gatling wrote: »

Probably down to the presumption that they help built this country and worked all the lives and paid taxes so asking them to pay for bus and train fair on there state pension is snt right , plenty of pensioners that haven't worked a day in there lives ,and plenty of pensioners have more than one pension to live off and yet they (most) claim poverty and hardship

What about the pensioners (like my father for example) who have worked all their lives? My Dad had his first job at 13. That's 53 years solid labour. He never took a penny off the state. Would you deny him a ftp? Because I'd rather he get it than some sc*mbag who wouldnt know a days work if it hit him in the face.

Tickityboo

OldNotWIse wrote: »

What about the pensioners (like my father for example) who have worked all their lives? My Dad had his first job at 13. That's 53 years solid labour. He never took a penny off the state. Would you deny him a ftp? Because I'd rather he get it than some sc*mbag who wouldnt know a days work if it hit him in the face.

But those scumbags you talk about will be pensioners someday!!

Gatling

OldNotWIse wrote: »

What about the pensioners (like my father for example) who have worked all their lives? My Dad had his first job at 13. That's 53 years solid labour. He never took a penny off the state. Would you deny him a ftp? Because I'd rather he get it than some sc*mbag who wouldnt know a days work if it hit him in the face.

Not what I'm saying at all ,
Not every pensioner needs an ftp I've seen plenty of pensioner's driving big cars and hanging around golf clubs,
Again not all pensioners do or can but plenty don't need any state assistance

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Gatling

Fred Swanson wrote: »

Means test them for pensioners and end the blanket entitlement.

Fully agree

Hilly Bill

Tickityboo wrote: »

But those scumbags you talk about will be pensioners someday!!

And some of these Pensioners were scumbags in their day.

OldNotWIse

Gatling wrote: »

Not what I'm saying at all ,
Not every pensioner needs an ftp I've seen plenty of pensioner's driving big cars and hanging around golf clubs,
Again not all pensioners do or can but plenty don't need any state assistance

My dad neither owns a "big car" nor hangs around golf clubs, and since he is living on the state pension, I'm sure he'd pass a means test with flying colours. Tbh, why not means test all sw payments? I know its political suicide to suggest, but why are there groups of people who get things simply because they tick box a,b or c? Have everyone means tested - there'll be more money in the pot for those who actually need it.

Gatling

OldNotWIse wrote: »

My dad neither owns a "big car" nor hangs around golf clubs, and since he is living on the state pension, I'm sure he'd pass a means test with flying colours. Tbh, why not means test all sw payments? I know its political suicide to suggest, but why are there groups of people who get things simply because they tick box a,b or c? Have everyone means tested - there'll be more money in the pot for those who actually need it.

I think that's a debate for another forum

foggy_lad

Conflats wrote: »

Would a reform of the Free travel pass not be better,

i.e make it electronic something like a leap card kind of system where is has to be scanned all the time and say limit its use that way.

This is on the way.

Now I dont believe the pensioners should be targeted as they have done there bit for society

the only ones who should have one are the disabled, terminally ill and pensioners anyone else tough luck and deal with it go find a way. If your unemployed you should say be given a pass that is valid for 1 day kind of thing and you have to collect in the local social welfare office to get you to from a job interview that you can only get if you present proof you need one.


Yes it might lead to less money going to C.I.E and other operators who run routes as part of the FTP scheme, but overall its not about keeping them afloat its about saving money in a very generous welfare society

The savings made when the extra administration and costs are accounted for would be so low that it really is not worth the uproar, there are far easier ways to save millions more from the social protection budget.

Hilly Bill

Any savings are better than none.

dowlingm

OldNotWIse wrote: »

What about the pensioners (like my father for example) who have worked all their lives? My Dad had his first job at 13. That's 53 years solid labour. He never took a penny off the state. Would you deny him a ftp? Because I'd rather he get it than some sc*mbag who wouldnt know a days work if it hit him in the face.

Why should he also get his full phone bill paid? His electricity bill? His food bill? His bar tab? What other things should the state be paying in full and without limit? Because that's what we're talking about here.

FloatingVoter

Pensioners voice their opinion at the ballot box - not internet forums. That's the one and only one reason why they got the free travel pass and why they remain untouchable by elected politicians.
The rest of you can stay cool, forget to vote, set up Facebook pages complaining about banana republics and not matter a whit.

murphaph

FloatingVoter wrote: »

Pensioners voice their opinion at the ballot box - not internet forums. That's the one and only one reason why they got the free travel pass and why they remain untouchable by elected politicians.
The rest of you can stay cool, forget to vote, set up Facebook pages complaining about banana republics and not matter a whit.

This. Not much more to say really! Vote people. vote!

n97 mini

FloatingVoter wrote: »

Pensioners voice their opinion at the ballot box - not internet forums. That's the one and only one reason why they got the free travel pass and why they remain untouchable by elected politicians.
The rest of you can stay cool, forget to vote, set up Facebook pages complaining about banana republics and not matter a whit.

Probably the best post I've ever seen in C&T.

OldNotWIse

dowlingm wrote: »

Why should he also get his full phone bill paid? His electricity bill? His food bill? His bar tab? What other things should the state be paying in full and without limit? Because that's what we're talking about here.

eh....what? Who suggested a bar tab? Thats not what we're talking about here. But by all means allow your exagerrations to take you to whatever fairytale land you want. Our parents paid for theirs remember? And someone will pay for us, thats how the system works. Its not "us v them" unless you're a complete simpleton. Fact remains that he has worked far more and contributed far more to society than some of the sc*mbags on welfare. How many of them have worked solidly for 50 odd years? Yeah, didnt think so. People living with their partners and claiming they're not. people getting a monthly payment because they procreated, irrespective of the fact that they might be on a six figure salary, the only recently abolished communion payout?

Owryan

It shouldnt matter whether anyone has worked for 50 years or has never worked. No one should have free travel unless for compelling medical reasons .

By all means let there be a subsidised fare system but free ?, no way.

OldNotWIse

Owryan wrote: »

It shouldnt matter whether anyone has worked for 50 years or has never worked. No one should have free travel unless for compelling medical reasons .

By all means let there be a subsidised fare system but free ?, no way.

Well he is due to have pretty much everything below the neck replaced in the next year...if that helps In fact we slag him about being the "bionic man" - shameful I know.

LXFlyer

Owryan wrote: »

It shouldnt matter whether anyone has worked for 50 years or has never worked. No one should have free travel unless for compelling medical reasons .

By all means let there be a subsidised fare system but free ?, no way.

This frankly is the nub of the issue - what sort of society do you want.

I suspect a large number would disagree with your viewpoint.

As I've posted above, one of the aims of the free travel scheme was to encourage people to get out and about, and as a result of a healthier lifestyle reduce pressure on our health services.

There's a lot more to this than just simply making sweeping statements.