It has been announced that a historic new All-Ireland Free Travel scheme will commence from 2 April.
The scheme will herald a new era in seamless free all-island travel opportunities for tens of thousands of older people in every part of Ireland.
The announcement of the commencement of the new scheme was made today by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Minister for Social Affairs Séamus Brennan, and David Cairns, Northern Ireland Transport Minister.
The current Cross-Border Travel Service allows users to travel from a point in one jurisdiction to a point in the other jurisdiction.
The new scheme will allow seniors (those aged 66 and over) resident in the Republic to travel free of charge on all bus and rail services in Northern Ireland.
Likewise, seniors (over 65) in Northern Ireland will travel free on bus, rail, air and ferry services participating in the Free Travel scheme in the Republic.
More than 600,000 customers are in receipt of free travel in the Republic, of which 430,000 are aged over 66.
Current annual expenditure on the scheme is more than €58 million.
