Due to a medical condition I am legally not allowed to drive. There are many many other people in the same situation both young & old.
I’ll come out and say I have epilepsy which acts up 2-3 times a year at minimum, which means i am legally not allowed to drive. Yet the Government does not deem me legally eligible for a free travel card which is handed out to many others in a same, less or worse situation to my own.
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Our public transport system is terrible enough in terms of quality and consistency but, I can’t be the only one who thinks it’s absolutely ridiculous that those in a similar situation as me are left paying for public transport after being told you are legally NOT allowed drive in one of the most car dependent countries in the world.
This post isn’t specifically just for me but for all the others who really need it but, do not ‘qualify’ for said service I’d love if reddit could make some noise over it and raise some awareness.
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Have a gander – [https://www.epilepsy.ie/content/epilepsy-ireland-resubmit-proposals-free-travel-advance-budget-23](https://www.epilepsy.ie/content/epilepsy-ireland-resubmit-proposals-free-travel-advance-budget-23)
43 comments
Yeah that’s not on. Have an upvote.
As a taxpayer I would have no problem paying for you to have that.
Yea, it certainly seems like the number of people who are medically barred from driving must be tiny number (statistically) so the cost of probably tiny compared to the benefit it provides for those who need it… I’ll be sure to nag the next door knocker about it
I didn’t not know that, but it’s disgraceful.
Have you spoken to anyone about this?
That’s awful. I presumed everyone deemed legally unable to drive was eligible for free travel
As always, the gov didn’t think far enough
Or at all
I’m not sure I follow the logic.
There are many people that don’t drive. They just pay to use alternative transport services.
If you had a disability that prevented you from working it would make sense for the state to fund your travel. However I don’t think that is the case.
I have tourettes syndrome and I’m allowed to drive. I just pull slight facial expression and maybe jerk a shoulder, clash my teeth together etc but it put me off driving for years.
You are getting the shit end of the stick but to be fair people who drive don’t get to do it for free. If you were able to drive you would be spending money on insurance and fuel.
Hey I work in advocacy, I’d be happy to put a case together for you to get this resolved.
People like yourself who are medically unable to drive, as well as people who are convicted dangerous drivers, are yet another reason building a car dependent state is really fucking stupid.
Not sure I agree that you should have a free travel card as a result — after all, if you could drive, you’d be spending a lot of money. But it is absolutely one of the many reasons we need to invest more in public and active transport.
> Yet the Government does not deem me eligible for a free travel card.
The only epileptic friend I ever had was entitled to a travel card for the same reason – he couldn’t legally drive. I’m genuinely angry now, that you’re denied it. [Epilepsy Ireland](https://www.epilepsy.ie/content/free-travel) are certainly trying to raise a stink about it. And they’re part-funded by the Government and HSE.
I’m similar with my eyes, everytime I go for a check up I get asked “did you drive in today”. I find it just funny at this stage.
Did not realise this, disgraceful really.
I agree with and support the idea of people like yourself getting free travel. There counterpoint is that you would have had to pay for the use of a car, so why should you get travel when most adults don’t?
Devil’s advocate : lots of people don’t have licences or don’t have an opportunity to drive. Why should you get free travel if they don’t?
For all its faults, England (specifically England, not aware of the sitch in S/W/NI) does better at this. If the DVLA say you’re not allowed to drive, you get a free bus pass. No questions asked.
my former supervisor in work said before that theres a gap between those who can legally drive based on eye exam and those who qualify for free travel.. if you’re in between you can’t drive or get free travel either..
Partially blind here- blind enough to not be allowed a license but not blind enough to get a travel pass. Logic = none.
I have a vision impairment that disqualifies me from driving yet they took my travel card off me when I joined the workforce. Felt like a punishment for working.
I have epilepsy also and could not drive.
What I found really perplexing that people who have had diabetic seizures can continue to drive. Had a colleague who caused a pretty serious accident because of this.
Side note: I have good meds (lamitrogin) and am seizure free for 10 years. Irish neurologists don’t seem to prescribe this medication. At least the ones in James’s.
I didn’t realise that was the case. It seems like complete BS that you’re not eligible for travel card. That warrants some lobbying from any epilepsy groups.
My brother has epilepsy, spends a fortune on taxis and public transport all the time, way more than a car, insurance, fuel ,etc would come to. It’s absolutely mad, he pays the same tax that we all do.
I feel like the benefits and grants are limited to such a small number of people, that most people get nothing, even in cases where they should get it, it’s super demoralizing.
I’m sorry to hear about this. I’ve seen from a few other comments though that you may be getting some help though. Good luck. 🙂
odd, i knew someone who had epilepsy, but he could still drive, and had the travel card. i dont know why you are not legible to have one
Had a mate who continued to drive after having fits. He once ended up in the middle of a roundabout with his 2 kids in the back of the car. He was the same 2-3 a year.
As a fellow Epileptic that is complete shite that you can’t get the card
Is ireland one of the most car dependant countries in the world?
But ya free transport should be standard in your situation. I kind of assumed it was tbh.
I would genuinely imagine that they just haven’t thought of the incongruence here. What you say makes perfect sense and it should happen, it might literally though have not occured to anyone.
Same man. It’s why I hate it when people start going on about how anti-car policies will hurt the disabled. It will help the vast majority to be fully independent.
Public transport should be so heavily subsidised that this wouldn’t be a conversation at all.
It’s ridiculous that it costs me €15 to go one way to Dublin which is only an hour away.
I’m an epileptic, so is another family member and we both have travel cards, the kicker. His is a companion, mine is not. I have active seizures on the regular and cannot be without someone present yet not deemed suitable for a companion pass although I can’t go anywhere alone. So I just don’t leave the house due to the anxiety of having one and being alone, so when people around me are forced to pay the ridiculous prices of the fairs to accompany me on days out I just don’t bother going out. My dad god bless him drives and will take me to do a monthly shop and top up ones during a week day but other than that I won’t leave my house.
Right looking at the comments here some of you need to be educated about disability.
Just because a person can work does not mean they are not disabled, or not disabled enough to qualify for some manner of aid from the government. A wheelchair-bound person with a job still has to deal with all the challenges of having mobility issues. An epileptic person still has to be mindful to avoid situations that can induce a fit.
It can be expensive to avoid situations that aggravate symptoms or can cause danger to someone with certain symptoms. People who cannot drive must rely on public transport. Depending on where you live and your personal health situation this might mean a lot of taxis. A person may be unable to carry shopping so they would need it delivered. Even if you have a job those can be incredibly expensive. And these are without taking into account other costs such as medical assistance and equipment.
Being disabled can doom a person to low income due to potentially being unable to fulfil the requirements for a better paying job, and the general discrimination disabled people face preventing them from getting promotions or even employment. Having a low income often means having to live in rural areas which tend to not have good options for public transport, and the longer the distance the more it costs.
Not everyone suffers symptoms to the same degree. Don’t tell someone “*my cousin has MS and he can do <thing> fine, so you can*”. Firstly many disabilities have a long list of symptoms and it’s common for people to not experience all of them. I have FND and one of the things it affects is the use of my arms. Many people with FND have zero issues in their arms. Secondly people with the same symptoms frequently don’t have them equally debilitating or manageable as one another. One person with MS may have difficulty walking only on hills or stairs, someone else who also has MS may have difficulty walking on any surface. People with the same diagnosis can have wildly different issues to deal with.
You cannot accurately determine a person’s ability to work or the state of their health just from looking at them. Many disabilities are invisible. From looking at me you cannot tell that there are black dots and flashing lights in my vision, that I can’t feel four of my fingers properly, that I have cognitive issues related to memory, and that I have a tens machine on my back to manage pain because my clothes can completely cover it. The reason why I look “fine” is because on a bad day I physically cannot go outside so you don’t see me when I’m truly suffering. I also avoid activities that aggravate my symptoms whenever possible, which makes it even less likely for someone else to notice that I have difficulty with many things others consider easy to do.
Having an invisible disability can really suck because you’re often accused of lying due to supposedly looking fine, and when you inform someone that you’re not fine or you get a sudden bad health episode in public you sometimes get accused of attention seeking. You can’t bloody win. This prejudice and ignorance has made me allergic to meeting new people. I got sick of dealing with “*you look grand, you can work*” when all that person has seen me do is sit down with a can of coke in a pub. Having to constantly defend the validity of my health issues is beyond exhausting and exasperating.
Our taxes are supposed to help society thrive and disabled people are part of society. If a person’s health issue legally prevents them from being able to drive then our taxes should ensure that the other options for transport available to them are not only of good quality, but also are affordable to someone of their income. And this doesn’t just help disabled people, this would help EVERYONE. We all would reap the benefits from more affordable and better public transport. Just because something is designed with disabled people in mind does not mean abled people cannot benefit from it.
That’s terrible. I was in secondary school with a girl who had a visual impairment. It was deemed bad enough that she would never sit her driving licence but not bad enough to qualify for the transport disability pass. Even though her sight would only deteriorate. On the other hand another friend had epilepsy triggered by an auto-immune disease and she was able to get a transport pass. Definitely worth fighting!
I have a travel card due to the benefit I am receiving, it is given automatically once you are eligible for a disability/ invalidity pension. Invalidity is not means based. I do have a disability but I can drive and never use it. I’ve always said the travel card should be means and needs eligibility. I’m sorry you’re being denied, makes no sense.
I would be interested in this decision. I am a diabetic who has had blood sugar caused seizures, so not safe to drive either. I find it unfair we don’t qualify for free transport.
I know a number of people in the same situation. Living in rural ireland and not being able to drive and relying on mediocre public transport. Should definitely get free transport
You know I was just having a conversation with myself about how so many people have issues and struggles that the general population don’t keep in mind. It’s almost fate that you put this up.
It highlights a foundational lack of accommodation for otherly abled individuals. I hope Epilepsy Ireland get everything they’re asking for and more.
yeah that is bullshit.
Id happily forego TD’s having drivers and security so Epileptics can get a travel pass.
its rank indecency
I don’t really know how I could do anything tangible to support but FWIW I totally agree, you should absolutely have a free travel card.
I knew this country was bad at transport, but not to the point of not giving transport passes to those whose disabilities prohibit them from driving. It’s absolutely outrageous.
That is outrageous. I see a few people have offered legitimate support, I hope you get it sorted. You should absolutely qualify for free travel.
I’m epileptic too since 17, am 32 now, flares up at about the same rate as yourself. 2 months free so waiting for the next.
I have a travel pass. I applied for disability when I was 18 and got the pass with the disability. It helps but I’m from and currently live in rural Cork, arse all public transport (45 mins by car, 2 hours by buses)
When living in areas of half decent public transport its really good to have, keep persisting. I’ve lost disability payments at times when working but they haven’t taken my pass