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Travel plan is no flight of fancy

Thursday, 03 July 2008

AN ELDERLY Northside man has launched a unique campaign to gain free international air travel for all Irish pensioners.
Noel Nutley (80), from Raheny, is calling on public representatives to consider his plan for free pensioner flights.
Noel believes they could stand to gain serious ground at next summer’s local elections if they take his plan on board.
He is calling on the Government to extend the current free travel pass for pensioners to include flights on Irish airlines.
“I am proposing that the Government covers the costs of pensioners filling up the empty seats on flights,” Noel told Northside People.
“We would be like standby passengers, waiting to see where seats are available.
“This way, airlines could actually stand to make a lot of money by filling up their unused seats.”
Noel said he’s not asking for something for nothing.
“There is no such thing as a free dinner after all,” he stated.
“When I was working, I paid taxes and earned my pensioner’s travel pass. Now I benefit from my years of hard work.
“I am not living in cuckoo land. I just think this would be a great way to allow elderly people to visit relatives abroad and give a boost to the airline industry in this country.”
A life-long campaigner, Noel was active in the 1970s fighting against the introduction of domestic rates.
“People thought I was mad then and said you can’t change anything but you don’t know until you try,” he declared.
“We beat the rates and Fianna Fáil got their best ever election results out of it.
“All you need is a popular idea and you can do anything.”
Noel, who presented his plan at an Age Action conference last week, has encouraged members of the group to raise his proposal with their local politicians.
“Age Action is an independent organisation working to promote better policies and services for the elderly,” Noel stated.
“I am just an ordinary member myself but anyone can raise issues at the conference.
“I think this is an important issue for older people, as many of us have family living abroad these days.”
With the elderly making up a large percentage of the voting population, Noel is aware of the added influence they carry with politicians around election time.
“I want to build a support base for this and if I can get Age Action to agree, then we will be on a much better footing,” he added.
“I don’t think politicians can do much unless the boys at the top really want to go along with it.
“This is why we need to build popular support for the idea; we could sweep the boards.”
Currently, anyone aged 66 and over who is living permanently in Ireland is entitled to the Government’s free travel scheme.
Under the scheme, free travel is available on all public transport including bus, rail and the Luas. Free travel is also available on a limited number of services operated by private bus companies.
Noel, who sees his plan as a logical extension of this free transport scheme, said he can travel for free from Cork to Belfast.
“I should be able to make the much cheaper trip to London,” he stated.
“This could be a way for the Government to help out Aer Lingus without having to directly fund them.
“It would give older people a much greater degree of freedom and would not cost the Government much money at all.”

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