THERE are no plans for Stormont to follow the lead of its counterparts in the Republic to provide free public transport to the partially sighted.
Minister for Infrastructure Chris Hazzard said there was "currently no provision within the budget" to offer the service for partially sighted people and their carers in Northern Ireland.
His comments come in an answer to an assembly question from his Sinn Féin colleague Michaela Boyle.
Ms Boyle, an MLA for West Tyrone, had asked if there were any plans to "introduce a similar scheme to the one in the south of Ireland where people that are partially sighted receive free public transport and can bring a companion for free".
But Mr Hazzard said budget pressures meant there were no plans to bring in such a scheme.
"I am sympathetic to your call for a change to provide free travel for those who are partially sighted and for their carers similar to the one in the south of Ireland," he said.
"However, the position is that the concessionary fares budget remains under pressure and there is currently no provision within the budget to support any further extension of the scheme.
"Given the pressures on the concessionary fares budget no work has been undertaken to cost potential extensions."
