Fine Gael's Transport Spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell has welcomed the announcement of an extension to the free travel scheme.
From 25 September the Government is to lift morning and evening peak time restrictions for holders of free travel passes.
Deputy Mitchell has welcomed the move but said new buses must be provided for it to make any difference in urban areas.
The Minister for Social Affairs, Séamus Brennan, said the lifting of the restrictions would benefit 600,000 people.
Mr Brennan said the lifting of the restrictions, which were first introduced in 1967, means that in future there will be no limits placed on the amount of free travel eligible people take or at what time they take it.
The peak time access restrictions have applied up to now on all Dublin Bus services and on Bus Éireann city services in Cork and Limerick.
The rules specified that access to these services for pass holders was restricted Monday to Friday from 7am to 9am and from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.
There have also been restrictions on Friday evening travel from 4pm to 7pm within a 20-mile radius of Dublin, Cork and Limerick.
