Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1999 > Committee on Family, Community and Social Affairs > Report - Proposal to establish a senior Euro card

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

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JOINT COMMITTEE ON FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS

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Proposal to Establish A Senior Euro Card

(Rapporteur: Mr. Jim O’Keeffe T.D.)

November, 1999

Proposal To Establish A Senior Euro Card

Report by Jim O’Keeffe T.D.

November, 1999

Table of Contents

APPENDICES

PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A Senior Euro Card

Report by Jim O’Keeffe T.D.

In this Report I have focused in particular on Free or Concessionary Travel facilities for the elderly throughout the European Union and in the applicant Member States. I have done so for the following reasons:

1.Free/Concessionary Travel for older Citizens would open up Europe to the more mature person and would without doubt encourage such people to travel between countries and become more “at home” with Europe.

2.Having such a policy within the EU would allow Citizens to take the opportunity to explore cultural diversities within Europe and allow many to visit countries and regions that they would not otherwise have the opportunity to see.

3.I believe that if we can overcome the problems of a Senior Euro Card in relation to Free/Concessionary Travel for the Elderly we will have established a system that can be extended, like the Student Card, into many other areas.

The purpose of the Senior Euro Card would be to facilitate and encourage the greater use of such facilities and activities throughout the EU by the elderly, particularly in Member States other than their own.

Recommendations

1.Ireland should take a lead role in pressing for the introduction of a Senior Euro Card.

2.The Euro Card programme should be comprehensive in principle but varied in practice in order to allow for flexibility demanded by existing complications and distinctions in policies between Member States. Operation of the Scheme should develop with as complete an acceptance of universality and streamlining as possible to ensure maximum efficiency and equity across the European Union.

3.The Senior Euro Card initially should allow access by the elderly to free/concessionary travel facilities throughout the European Union. Subsequently, its use should be extended as a basis for concessions or discounts for the elderly over a wide range of areas, particularly in regards to Health and Social security arrangements across Europe.

4.The Euro Card would operate on the basis that holders would be entitled to the same concessions offered to residents in any Member State. On that basis they should be required to meet the same age and eligibility requirements before being entitled to avail of discounts in any particular Member State. Hopefully over time a greater level of uniformity in relation to concessions and discounts would arise between Member States.

5.National Agencies should issue Senior Euro Cards to older persons. The role of these agencies should also include the licensing and monitoring of service/product providers for use of the Logo. With the purchase of the Logo, service/product providers in any one Member State would guarantee equal concessions for residents of that State and for CardHolders throughout the EU.

6.The Logo and Card should be universal, simple and memorable and use language and visual image appropriate across the European Union.

9.A Euro Card Headquarters is needed to oversee and co-ordinate operations. It would be wise also to have a Euro Card Council formed from each of the Member States representing Government, Commercial, Leisure and Older Peoples interests. The role of the Council would be to promote and protect the Euro Card project as well as to consult and advise Member States.

10.Operation of the Euro Card Headquarters should be financed from the EU Budget.

11.Furthermore there should be a Euro Card Equalization Fund also funded by the EU Budget. The purpose would be to ensure that Member States with a greater and more generous range of concessions would be entitled to apply to the fund to alleviate any undue burden arising in comparison to other Member States. This would be particularly important to Ireland in the context of the Free Travel Scheme that is exceptionally generous in comparison to the concessionary Schemes applicable in other Member States.

12.If at a National Agency level it is decided to put the emphasis on a commercial as opposed to a Public Service approach funding could be raised through either an annual or a once off lifetime payment by the Card Holder. Furthermore, there would also be the possibility of funding from License Holders who would pay an annual fee for the use of the Euro Card Logo and Brand.

13.As an immediate initial step, a scheme should be established to provide for reciprocal travel arrangements for the elderly throughout the Island of Ireland. The 1995 arrangement covers cross border travel between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Free cross border travel is available to Pass holders in Ireland, their spouses or companions in the case of people holding companion passes, and to Northern Ireland Concessionary Travel Pass holders. However Free Travel Pass holders are not entitled to free travel within Northern Ireland and similarly holders of the N.I. Concessionary Travel Pass are not entitled to free travel on journeys made within the Republic of Ireland. An obvious initiative to be taken up immediately by one of the cross border implementation bodies would involve an extension of reciprocal travel rights for the elderly within both the Republic and Northern Ireland. Such a system could then be followed by discussions with the new authorities in Scotland and Wales leading on to mutually agreed arrangements throughout the two islands.

SIGNED

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JIM O’KEEFFE T.D.

September 1999.

Free Travel Ireland - North/South Dimension

The Free Travel Scheme, under the aegis of the Department of Social, Community & Family Affairs, is available to all people aged 66 and over, and who are permanently resident in the State. It allows for free travel on most CIE public transport services and also on some public transport services provided by a large number of private operators in different parts of the country. This Scheme is also available to some under the age of 66 who are disabled, unemployed, lone parents or Carers. As of the end of March 1999, approximately 537,000 Free Travel Passes had been issued. The estimated cost of this Scheme in 1999 is £34.5 million and the approximate cost of the Free Travel Pass (Standard) is £66 and £92 for Free Travel Pass (Companion).

In some instances, there are time restrictions as to when people availing of this scheme may travel. For example travelling by Bus in Dublin, one may do so before 7am, between 9.45am and 4.30pm and from 6.30pm to close of service (Monday to Friday). One may travel at anytime on Saturday and Sunday. This applies to provincial city services in Cork and Limerick also. One may travel at anytime by train, Dart or Ferry.

Free Travel Passes must be returned if a person leaves the country permanently, if there is a change of address (a new one will be issued with correct address), or if a person no longer satisfies the conditions applicable to the particular Free Travel entitlement (Companion/Unrestricted status).

Senior Citizens (those over 65 yrs) in Northern Ireland apply to Ulsterbus and main NI Railway stations if they wish to obtain concession travel passes. To apply, one must bring proof of age (a passport or birth certificate) and a clear, passport sized photograph. The Concession passes are issued on behalf of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. This concession pass enables the holder to Free cross border travel and half price travel on all Citybus, NI Railways and Ulsterbus scheduled services. The travel pass is issued free of charge.

When travelling by train, an individual simply fills in a “travel warrant” form and presents it with the Concession Travel Pass to the ticket issuing clerk prior to departure. If travelling by bus, an individual must show the Concession Travel Pass to the ticket issuing clerk/driver prior to departure.

Free Travel was extended in 1995 to cover cross border travel between Ireland and Northern Ireland and vice versa on time tabled rail (Enterprise Travel) and bus journeys. However, holders of Free Travel Passes (from the South) are not entitled to free travel within Northern Ireland and those from Northern Ireland who are of eligible age are unable to avail of Free Travel in the South.

Development of the Scheme

In May 1989, the Commission of the European Communities recommended that Member States take the measures necessary for the creation of a European over 60’s Card offering advantages within the fields of public transport and cultural activities. States were also advised to take appropriate steps to inform the Departments and Services whose task it would be to grant special conditions and reductions to Card holders.

The idea behind the recommendation was to encourage the mutual acquaintance and understanding between the citizens of different Member States and to increase individual awareness of the Community dimension. In particular, it was felt that the elderly should be encouraged to take greater advantage of the opportunities for cultural enrichment available in the various Member States. Furthermore, it was felt that the introduction of such a Card was consistent with the spirit of a people’s Europe. Accordingly, Member States were recommended to introduce the Card by the 1st January 1991 “at the latest”.

The recommendation has not been implemented by Member States.

Ireland, which has taken a positive role from the point of view of the establishment of Free Travel facilities for the elderly, could also give a positive lead within the European Union by promoting the establishment of a Senior Euro Card.

Prior to the Commission recommendation, there had been a 1986 report on concessions for older people in the European Economic Community. This was produced by Eurolink Age, a European network concerned with older people and issues of aging, which had been asked to compile a report on concessions and benefits available to older people throughout the Community. The request for a study arose through expressed interest by members of the European Parliament concerning the availability of concessions to older people in the E.E.C., and the interest was linked to the possibility of introducing a European Pensioners Card to all E.E.C. Pensioners. The objective of such a card would be to enhance the quality of life of older Europeans by enabling them to benefit from some of the cultural, leisure, travel and other facilities and benefits enjoyed by older people at a reduced price in various parts of the E.E.C.

This report looked at concessions for older people from the point of view of Public Transport, Telephones, Entertainment, Television, Holiday Schemes, Sport and Adult Education. Apart from travel, the 1986 report looked at the possibility of introducing a “Card” providing eligibility to a wider range of services and benefits, including Social Security, Housing and Health provision. This report did concede that this idea would be one for the longer term.

In 1993 the Dane Age Association produced for the E.E.C. Commission a report on travel and culture and access to concessions by older people in Europe. The report looked at the following areas:

Transport

Travel and Holidays

Cultural Activities

Education

Special National Events

This 1993 report covered the then 12 Member States, and the primary purpose of the project was to produce a guide on transport and culture in the E.E.C. for older people.

The 1997 Age Concern England report looked at the situation in more detail in 5 Member States - Denmark, France, Ireland, the Netherlands and the U.K. This report, which involved a study for the Social Affairs Directorate of the European Commission, recommended that EU States should move towards a Senior Euro Pass entitling users to concessions not only on travel but also on social and cultural activities.

The report confirmed that the idea of a cross - European Logo and matching pass for the provision of concessionary goods and services to older people had been warmly welcomed. The report pointed out that with a quarter of the European Union population over 60 years of age, “a Euro Pass is just not about the relief of social casualty, although, to be sure, many older Europeans live in dire poverty. It is saliently about citizenship, about the civil challenge of providing a social environment wherein older Europeans would be more effectively mobilized to live enhanced lives of constructive leisure. Coupled with that must be the need to ensure that the commercial imperative - a reasonable return for the public and providers the service - is sustained. Euro pass must satisfy both trader and customer”.

According to this report each Member State would create its own Euro Pass agency, its own eligibilities (that is the age at which the concession might be allowable and the cost of membership) and its own arrangement about the scale of discount and the quality of service provided. What would be constant would be the character and styling of the pass and logo and of course the feature of cross-national reciprocity.

In a Department presentation to the Joint Committee it outlined the main recommendations of the Age Concern report as follows:

1.That the EU Commission grant funding for the establishment of a Euro Pass Headquarters

2.That the Euro Pass Council be established to act as trustees of the Euro Pass Headquarters. The Council would consist of representatives of each Member State.

3.That the Council would be supported by a Euro Pass Secretariat who would produce a business plan and establish a Euro Pass brand.

4.That the eligibility criteria for the Euro Pass be as similar as possible from State to State.

5.That each national Euro Pass agency should have an executive and advisory committee.

6.That funding of the Euro Pass would be balanced between pass holders and service deliverers, and while funding would be a matter for each Member State, each national agency would contribute to the upkeep of the Euro Pass Headquarters.

7.That the Euro Pass scheme be subject to “quality control”

8.That the focus of Euro Pass should be on quality as well as on concessions.

All of these reports show that although all Member States offer some form of concessionary schemes to older people, many do not use a card system as such, and the conditions entitling people to transport and cultural concessions also vary greatly from one Member State to another. Several Member States have no national concession scheme but rely instead on a decentralised local approach with variations between regions. In fact the sheer number and variety of schemes operated by Member States, combined with the fact that the situation is constantly changing, make it difficult to have an accurate, up to date picture at European level.

It is also of interest to know that the Court of Justice examined several complaints of discrimination against nationals of other Member States as recipients of services, for example being denied access to reduced or free entry to Museums or other Public Buildings and access to reductions in transport fares. The Court, basing itself on Article 6 concerning discrimination on grounds of nationality and Article 59 on freedom to provide services, has consistently condemned such discriminatory practices.

Student Card

It is possible that if progress is to be made in the establishment of a Senior Euro Card, lessons can be drawn from the workings of the Student I.D. Card. The International Student Travel Confederation was founded 50 years ago as a forum for exchanging ideas and to examine the needs of the expanding worldwide network of Student Travel Bureaus.

Student cards are now recognized in over 90 countries, and discounts and special arrangements are available both in the home country and abroad when using the Student Card. An examination of the workings of the Student I.D. Card together with a look at how USIT operates in Ireland is included in Appendix 2.

Views of the Department of Social, Community & Family Affairs

On a number of occasions, The Federation of Irish Societies in the UK has raised the question of extending the Free Travel Scheme to retired EU visitors to Ireland.

The initial proposal of the Federation of Irish Societies was to extend the Free Travel Scheme to retired Irish emigrants visiting Ireland. It was pointed out by the Department that confining such a concession to Irish nationals only could be contrary to EU law, which in many instances prohibits discrimination on grounds of nationality.

At a broader level, the Social Welfare code in Ireland has never had provisions that would have the effect of treating people differently on grounds of nationality. Ireland has, accordingly, always supported the principle of equal treatment on grounds of nationality, not only because this is right in itself, but also because this principle serves to protect the rights of the many Irish people residing abroad.

In addition, the Department points out that the logistical and administrative difficulties involved in extending the Free Travel scheme to EU pensioners visiting Ireland would be substantial. Bord Fáilte estimates that approximately 230,000 EU citizens over the age of 65 visited Ireland in 1997. Of this number, approximately 120,000 did not use a car or private coach during their stay. It is very difficult to estimate the cost of extending the Free Travel scheme to this group as this would depend on usage. However if the average spend per person was £66.00, this would imply a cost of some £8 million per annum.

The Department also says that, apart from any difficulties which an extension might pose for the country’s transport operators, there are other practical issues which would need to be addressed. These would involve the processing of applications, establishing the identities and eligibility of applicants and the issue of passes. In order to be of any value to a visitor, applications would need to be processed very quickly and the large numbers involved concentrated in a relatively short period could be a very significant administrative overhead for the Department. The potential for abuse could also be considerable, and therefore, any such scheme would require close monitoring.

According to the Department, the alternative would seem to be some sort of common travel document for EU pensioners which would require negotiation and agreement at EU level.