Vol. 432 No. 6
94 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Company is participating in the Department of Social Welfare's free travel scheme for pensioners and the reason North West Busways, that is, a company providing a service and meeting the licensing requirement in North Donegal in the same catchment area, has been excluded from entry to the Department of Social Welfare schemes.
The first of the two companies mentioned by the Deputy has been participating as a private bus operator in the free travel scheme for many years. The second company mentioned has applied to join the scheme in order to provide bus services to free travel customers in the same geographical area as the first company.
In assessing this application, my Department has had to take a number of factors into account. These included an examination of the level of bus services currently available to free travel customers in the region, the question of whether there is a need to provide a greater level of such services having regard to customer needs and the financial resources available under the free travel scheme. My Department also had to have consultations with the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications.
The assessment of the company's application is almost completed and a decision is expected to be made shortly. The company will be advised of the outcome without delay.
