| Campaign drive begins for free travel
in Ireland  By
Niamh Hennessy
IT is one the major issues affecting the Irish community in Britain but
one man has decided to take matters into his own hands.
Thomas Culleton from Spondon in Derby has launched a massive campaign to
draw the attention of the Irish Government to the issue of free travel for
the Irish community in Britain when they return to Ireland.
As well as writing letters to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Mr Culleton has gathered
signatures on a petition from hundreds of people who support his cause.
He is now calling on all Irish Associations in Britain to follow in his
footsteps and lobby the Irish Government on the issue.
He said: “I believe a major concerted and united effort should be
made to process this issue from the major Irish Associations around the
country.
“The case for free travel in Ireland for the elderly Irish in Britain
is a very strong one and has been paid for in advance by the sweat and toil
of those who are now the elderly Irish in Britain.”
Currently anybody living outside Ireland cannot avail of free travel when
they return.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said recently that extending free travel to all Irish
pensioners in Britain when they return to Ireland remains a priority for
the government.
He added however that because of European Union laws the Irish Government
have also had to look at extending the Free Travel Scheme to all persons
in the EU who are in receipt of an Irish social welfare pension when they
visit Ireland.
Although Mr Ahern said he is determined to explore all options further he
did say that legal advice given to them indicates that to extend the Free
Travel Scheme to people in receipt of Irish pensions who live outside Ireland
would be discriminatory under EU law.
Everyone aged 66 and over living permanently in Ireland is entitled to the
Free Travel Scheme.
Those in receipt of this scheme are also permitted to travel free on public
transport between Ireland and the North of Ireland.
Sue O’Reilly who is living in Liverpool said she travels back to Ireland
frequently to visit relatives and a free travel pass would be a massive
help.
She said: “I have relatives in Kerry, Cork and Galway and find it
very expensive travelling between these places.
“I can’t get to Ireland as much as I would like to because of
the expense so I fully support any campaign for free travel for the Irish
community in Britain.”
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