What about free travel for young people?

5.33.50pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 26th Jun 2006

Young Alliance Chair, Ian Parsley

The Chair of the Alliance Party's youth wing has challenged the Minister for Regional Development to run a consultation on free public transport for young people, after he revealed plans to extend provision for over-65s.

North Down Councillor Ian James Parsley stated: "The Minister says that provision of free public transport for elderly people across the Island will be welcome, and no doubt he is right. However, proportionately young people are far more likely to benefit from such a provision, but are being overlooked.

"Many young people cannot afford public transport so choose not to be mobile at all -- limiting job prospects and social mobility. Other benefits would include the creation of a culture of using public transport among young people that would last a lifetime, and the removal of dependency on the car, itself not only a huge expense, but also the greatest cause of death and injury to young males in Northern Ireland.

"We cannot afford free public transport to be handed out on the basis of populism. A properly thought-through policy on where free public transport should apply would place young people at the top of the list.

"I would urge the Minister to make sure he has his priorities on this issue right. If the case for free travel for elderly people is a good one, the case for young people is unanswerable."

ENDS