In a recent announcement, Northern Ireland's Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd revealed the introduction of application fees for Translink Smartpasses for individuals over 60. Although the free travel system for public buses and trains will continue in Northern Ireland, a first-time application will now incur a nominal charge.
This new policy entails a £20 fee for residents aged 60-64, while those aged 65 and over will pay a reduced fee of £12 for a Senior Smartpass, which extends free public transport privileges throughout the island of Ireland. Notably, these changes will take effect in the autumn and will not impact disability-related Smartpasses.
According to Minister O'Dowd, these fees are a necessary step to safeguard the concessionary travel system amid fiscal challenges. “Years of underfunding and austerity by the British government mean these are challenging times for all departments, and Infrastructure is no different,” he stated.
This decision follows a public consultation from the previous summer, during which various suggestions were considered, including altering the age criteria for free transport. Protests erupted at the time against any potential rollback of free travel benefits for those over 60.
O'Dowd emphasized the need for difficult decisions following the recent budget allocation, which gives the Department for Infrastructure a resource budget of nearly £560 million and a capital allocation of £820 million for 2024-25. From this budget, Translink will receive £245.8 million, including £80 million designated for the Belfast Transport Hub, set to open later this year.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Water will gain resource funding of £137.7 million and capital funding of £323.6 million. Despite these allocations, O'Dowd acknowledged that the funding fell short of desired levels and stressed the importance of prioritizing essential services. “We must all prioritize essential services along with health and safety, while maximizing service delivery within the resources available,” he said. The Minister also announced funding for significant infrastructure projects, including rail improvements and major road investments.
The introduction of application fees is expected to balance the preservation of essential front-line services and infrastructure projects, ensuring continued access to vital amenities for Northern Ireland’s residents.
