The new all-Ireland free travel scheme came into effect today giving senior citizens unlimited use of bus and rail services north and south.
Tens of thousands of pensioners can apply for special passes to take trips without charge anywhere on the island. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern presented the first pensioners to use the new all-Ireland free travel scheme with their passes in Dublin as they boarded a bus for Belfast.
"I would encourage senior citizens to make full use of the new concessions to explore as much of the island as they possibly can through leisure breaks, visiting family or friends, or simply taking day trips to the many attractions the island of Ireland has to offer," he said.
"I am particularly pleased that in beginning this unrestricted all-island scheme we are delivering on the commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce all-Ireland free travel for our older people on all parts of the island".
The scheme was finalised through an historic arrangement between transport providers in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Previously, 430,000 people aged 66 or over, could travel for free throughout the Republic, and in the North 200,000 senior citizens qualified under the concessionary fares scheme.
Up until now they were restricted to free travel in their own jurisdiction or journeys from one point on one side of the Border to one point on the other side. Now they will be able to hop-on and hop-off public transport north or south.
Under the new scheme people from the north will be able to use their senior pass in the south while customers here will be able to get a similar electronic pass from the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
Details of the application process will advertised in the national and regional media over the coming days. Mary Bradley, SDLP MLA and spokeswoman on the elderly, welcomed the move.
"This is practical north-south co-operation at its best, benefiting all the people of this island. I hope that senior citizens will make full use of this opportunity to get to know all parts of Ireland," she said.