Bus passes in Northern Ireland for people with epilepsy

If you have been refused a driving licence because of your epilepsy, you may be entitled to a Half Fare Smart Pass. You will need to be aged between 16 and 64, and be resident in Northern Ireland.

The Motor Vehicle (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 allow a person with epilepsy to have a driving licence if:

that person has not had an epileptic attack while awake for a year or more, or
that person has a history of attacks while asleep, and only while asleep, over the past three years or more, and
the driving of a vehicle by that person is not likely to cause danger to the public.

This means that a person is not eligible for a concessionary pass just because they have epilepsy. They are eligible for a pass if they would be refused a driving licence, if they applied for one.

What concession does the pass give?

The pass entitles you to fifty per cent (a half) off the standard adult single fare on scheduled bus and rail services operating within Northern Ireland, and is known as the Half Fare SmartPass.

How can I prove I am eligible for the Half Fare SmartPass?

You would need to apply for a driving licence and have it refused on medical grounds. Translink (the card issuer) will need to see a copy of the Driver and Vehicle Agency in Northern Ireland (DVA) refusal letter when you make your application.