AQW 14997/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 18/02/2021
Answered On Date: 02/03/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether she intends to conduct a review of the Concessionary Fares Scheme.

Answer:

I fully recognise the wide ranging benefits of the Concessionary Fares scheme and can see merit in a review of the Scheme given that the last policy review of the Scheme was in 2007.

I am considering the options open to me in the context of the underfunded position of the current Scheme for the last five years, and the resource budget allocated to my Department in the draft budget. I am continuing to engage with Minister Murphy in an effort to secure the sustainable, long term funding of the Scheme and subject to the outcome of this engagement I will decide on the way forward, taking into account the resource available to me at this time.