More than 600,000 people who qualify for the free travel scheme will be able to use public transport without any peak-time travel restrictions from today.
The restrictions have been in place since the scheme was introduced by Charles Haughey as minister for finance almost 40 years ago. However, on foot of a policy proposal by Minister for Social Affairs Séamus Brennan, the Government has removed the restrictions which applied from 7am to 9am and from 4.30pm to 6.30pm on Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann services.
The decision will see the cost of the free travel scheme to the State rise from €58.3 million at present to almost €60 million.
The Government has agreed to pay transport operators an additional €1 million to compensate for the extension of free travel, but this may increase to €2 million, depending on the volume of extra demand for peak-time travel.
The scheme is available to people aged at least 66 years of age who are permanently resident in the State. It is also available to people with disabilities, people in receipt of certain welfare payments, and to carers in receipt of the carer's allowance.
Of the more than 600,000 people covered by the scheme, around 430,000 are aged over 66. Another 145,000 are in receipt of an invalidity or disability payment, while a further 25,000 are carers.
Mr Brennan said it was unacceptable that older people were being restricted from travelling for free at certain times, especially given the increasing numbers opting to remain in the workplace.
"We're removing these restrictions for good, strong social policy reasons. It will benefit tens of thousands of people who up to now have been severely curtailed in the times they have been allowed to travel in the main cities and surrounding areas on public transport," he said.
"In a 21st-century progressive and enlightened Ireland, such restrictions are no longer acceptable."
The ending of peak-time travel restrictions will remove the need for people to apply for special passes so they can attend hospital appointments, educational, rehabilitative or therapeutic courses at peak times.