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22.11.01
10 Deputy L.V. Feltham of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding concessionary
Bus Pass Scheme (OQ.109/2022):
Would the Minister indicate whether he would consider extending the AvanchiAccess concessionary bus pass scheme for Jersey residents with a prescribed long-term disability to people whose disability does not prevent them from driving and, if not, why not?
Deputy T. Binet (The Minister for Infrastructure):
I would like to thank the Deputy for her question. The concessionary bus scheme is for people with a disability and its specific purpose is to support those unable to drive on the grounds that their disability would preclude them from holding a driving licence. The primary purpose is not to provide free subsidised transport, rather its intent is to provide this group of people with limited options the ability to move around the Island. Any extension to the criteria would obviously have financial implications. However, as a point of principle, I would be very happy to work with the Minister for Social Security who is responsible for disability to consider such an extension.
- Deputy L.V. Feltham :
Could the Minister expand on what financial implications he would envisage if the bus pass was made available to the people I refer to in my question?
Deputy T. Binet :
That would depend entirely on the demand and at this point in time I have not any access to information that would suggest what that might be.
- Deputy M. Tadier :
In a similar vein, would the Minister ensure that all concessionary passes, whether they be the Avanchi pay-as-you-go, the throughfares, or the disabled pass as we are talking about, are much more proactively marketed so that everybody who has got an access to them knows they are. To be fair, I think the disabled bus pass is fairly well advertised but the AvanchiCard is not necessarily, and that provides great savings.
Deputy T. Binet :
I am certainly happy to look at that.
- Deputy M. Tadier :
At the same time, would he consider a generic card, so that when somebody presents their card coming on to the bus they do not have to be identified as one particular group or another?
[11:15]
It could be a generic card to somebody with a disability which may not be visible, does not have to, if you like, have that shown to the public which could be considered an issue of privacy and data protection.
Deputy T. Binet :
That sounds like a perfectly reasonable suggestion and, yes, I am happy to look at that too.
- Deputy L.V. Feltham :
While some people with disabilities may be able to drive, it may well be more appropriate or more inclusive for them to be able to get into town on the bus. So, given that, would the Minister be prepared to look again at whether these people could have access to the concessionary card?
Deputy T. Binet :
I think that might have been covered under the original question, but in the event that it is not, I would certainly be happy to look at that, too.