Heney to fight for free travel scheme

Cllr. Deirdre Heney today said that “media reports about the free travel scheme, first introduced for pensioners by Fianna Fáil in 1967 being reviewed by Government must be sending a shiver down the spine of every pensioner and indeed any others who qualify.

 

Cllr. Heney said that “the introduction of this travel scheme in 1967, (followed soon after by the free electricity and gas units) was one of the great social decisions of the last 50 years and transformed the lives of pensioners and others for the better.

 

Heney said “the free travel pass is a real benefit to older people and allows them to lead active lives. Access to transport plays a quality of life issue and plays a major part in helping our senior citizens avoid social isolation and loneliness.

 

Cllr. Heney said “Fianna Fáil will vigorously oppose any attempt to remove this long cherished scheme.  She recalled the value her parents placed on the scheme and said “I am and will continue to speak out against any change to the scheme both within my own Party and throughout our local community.”

 

“Labour and Fine Gael Ministers have broken many promises over the last 20 months, surely they could not inflict such a cruel blow as this on our senior citizens”

 

Cllr heney says she will fight to retain this scheme brought in by Fianna Fáil