Over 600,000 people qualifying for the free travel scheme will be able to use public transport without any peak-time travel restrictions from today.
The restrictions, which have been in place since the scheme was introduced by Charles Haughey as minister for finance almost 40 years ago, applied from 7am to 9am and from 4.30pm to 6.30pm on Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann services.
The lifting of the restrictions will see the cost of the free travel scheme to the State rise from €58.3 million to almost €60 million.
The scheme is available to people aged at least 66 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.