asked the Minister for Social Welfare if and when he proposes to grant free travel facilities to all EEC invalidity pensioners as is the case in other EEC member states.

In relation to the first part of the question, I do not propose to extend the free travel scheme in the manner suggested by the Deputy. As regards the second part of the question, the information available to my Department is that the free travel scheme in this country is unique and no other similar State-sponsored scheme operates in other member states of the EEC.

Does the Minister realise that there are many Irish people who are in receipt of EEC invalidity pensions and that many of them are caught in this position? There are two cases in Wexford alone. Could we have another look to see what the cost might be of including them in our own scheme?

The major problem does not arise in relation to the number of people involved. It is estimated that the number is between 100 and 150. The problem is that there is no free travel scheme operated by any other EEC member state. In Northern Ireland, for example, the Stormont administration subsidise the travel costs of senior citizens and in Britain certain local authorities provide subsidised or free travel for certain categories. These subsidies in Britain are funded by the ratepayers and they are confined to travel on services within the urban areas only. Most of the European railways operate only a commercial discount scheme. Our scheme is unique and it is not possible to give parity when we are the only country operating it.

One of the people who made representations to me has a French invalidity pension and is entitled to free travel while in France and in some other EEC countries, not all. I bow to the Minister if he feels this information is not correct. This woman has actually used the service abroad and is now living in her home town of Wexford and she finds she has not the same benefit on her pension here.

Did I hear the Deputy say that it was a military pension?

No, an invalidity pension.

The pensioner for the most part in the EEC area may enjoy discounted travel for one year and the amount of charge and the discount vary from country to country. Ours is the only country with free travel.

8.