To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail potential annual recurring costs associated with moving Half Fare SmartPass to full fare concession.

The potential annual recurring costs associated with moving half fare SmartPass to full fare concession based on existing levels of usage are in excess of £1 million, which would take the full cost of the Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares Scheme to the region of £52 million per annum. The calculation of additional cost is caveated as this figure can be affected by a number of factors including the number of people who hold a half fare SmartPass and their pattern of usage; the rate of reimbursement to the service provider and public transport fare increases. It is highly likely that the recurring additional costs would be significantly higher than £1million based on the experience of Gilder where the result of introducing free travel for half fare SmartPass holders has been a substantial increase in patronage by half fare SmartPass holders.