Image caption, BBC News NI is investigating how Northern Ireland compares to the rest of the world when it comes to eligibility for free public transport for people aged 60 and over. Article information Author, Ross McKee Role, BBC News NI
6 hours ago
The charge, thought to be around £20, was announced by Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd.
This comes after the Department of Infrastructure ran a public consultation last summer asking the public whether the eligibility requirements should be changed.
For over 15 years, Stormont has funded free public transport for everyone over 60, regardless of income, to alleviate social exclusion.
However, since then, the cost of providing service has increased significantly, and the proportion of the population over 60 years old covered by SmartPass has also increased.
For Victor Murphy, co-chair of trade union Unison's retirees forum, retaining the passes is a “good decision”, but the application fee is not.
“We have the highest pension poverty rate in the UK and a significant number of people will struggle to afford it,” he said.
“There shouldn't be a fee.”
Murphy was one of several people who protested outside the Ministry of Infrastructure during last year's hearings.
Image caption: Victor Murphy was among those who campaigned to keep the TransLink Smart Pass.
“The passes have climate change and mental health benefits. They get people out of their cars and onto public transport,” he added.
Eddie Lynch, Northern Ireland's commissioner for older people, said he was “pleased” that Smart Pass for over-60s had been retained, adding that it was “vital to support our ageing society and keep people active, healthy and well”.
But how does Northern Ireland compare to the rest of the world when it comes to free public transport for people over 60?
What is the situation in Northern Ireland?
Stormont Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd said an application fee would be introduced for people aged 60 and over applying for a Translink Smart Pass for the first time.
In Northern Ireland, people aged 60 and over are entitled to free travel on public buses and trains, regardless of their income, and this scheme will continue.
However, O'Dowd announced that a “small fee” will soon be charged to passengers applying for a Smart Pass for the first time.
For people aged 60-64, the one-off fee is expected to be around £20.
The Department for Infrastructure has announced that older passengers aged 65 and over are eligible for a Senior Smart Pass, which will see the application fee reduced to around £12.
Image caption: Since 2007/2008, Stormont has funded free public transport for everyone over 60, regardless of income, in a bid to alleviate social exclusion.
What is the situation in the Republic of Ireland?
Free travel on public transport in the Republic of Ireland is available for:
All people who are 66 years of age or older and who have permanent residency in the state. Certain people who are under 66 years of age and who have permanent residency in the state who meet certain eligibility criteria.
The Irish government says its free travel scheme allows eligible people to travel free on all state-owned public transport, including buses, rail, Local Link and Luas, with some exceptions.
It added that there are “no current plans to introduce a fee for those eligible for the free travel scheme within the Republic of Ireland.”
What about England, Wales and Scotland?
In the UK, people are entitled to a free bus pass once they reach state pension age.
Londoners who turn 60 can travel free on buses, the Underground and other transport, but only within London.
In Wales you can get a bus pass when you turn 60.
In Scotland, people aged 60 and over who live in Scotland can travel on buses free of charge with their national entitlement card.
