asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will extend the scope of the free travel scheme to include the wives of old age pensioners, irrespective of their age.

Wives under 70 of old age pensioners are already entitled to free travel under this scheme when accompanying their husbands. Further extension of the scheme is not contemplated.

Would the Minister say what it would cost to extend it to non-Irish pensioners?

The next question relates to that.

Could I ask the Minister whether this is an example of the implementation of the idea of the Fianna Fáil Party that a woman's place is in the home, that she should never leave the home, and that she should not travel at all? That is implicit in this.

I answered the Deputy's question by saying that they are entitled to free travel.

If they are travelling with their husbands but not if they are on their own.

Does the Minister not agree that if a wife wishes to visit her husband in hospital she should be allowed to do so under the free travel arrangement? Does the Minister not agree that if a constituent of his is in hospital in Donegal and his wife who comes from Dunkineely—neighbours of his—wants to visit him, the Minister says: "No, you cannot do that."

I did not say that. I remember not very long ago when nobody had free travel.

We are not talking about long ago. We are talking about now.

24.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider extending free travel to persons over 70 years and living on a pension from outside the State.

The benefits of the free travel scheme are already available to persons, aged 70 or over, in receipt of British retirement pension. Further extension of the scheme is not contemplated.