Dobbins calls for funds to be made available to provide free public transport for people refused driving licences on medical grounds

Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir has been called on to make funds available to provide free public transport for people who have been refused driving licences on medical grounds.

The call comes from Derry SDLP Councillor Angela Dobbins who tabled a motion at today’s meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council supporting the Smart Pass Equality Campaign.

Similar schemes exist in the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and parts of England.

Cllr Dobbins (picture) said; “We feel that Smart Passes should be available to everyone that cannot drive due to medical reasons and we believe that the Infrastructure Minister should make this a reality.

“Unfortunately, Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard has stated that this is not possible due to budgetary constraints, and we are asking that this Council contact his Sinn Fein colleague, Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, to make the finance available.

“Finance Ministers in the Republic and in Scotland and Wales have found the money to fund this scheme and we feel that affected persons in the North should be afforded the same rights as their counterparts across these islands.”