asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the formalities which must be complied with by old age pensioners before they are granted free travel facilities with CIE.

28.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person in receipt of £1 per week non-contributory old-age pension and a British disability pension is entitled to free travel facilities with CIE.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take question numbers 27 and 28 together.

Any person receiving an old age pension from my Department, regardless of the rate, is eligible for free travel on the scheduled road and rail services of CIE subject to certain restrictions as to the time of travel. To secure free travel an eligible pensioner must produce his pension book to the conductor or other authorised official when travelling by bus, or at the railway booking office when travelling by train.

Is it necessary for the pensioner to fill in forms of any description?

No, apparently not.