The take-up figures from younger individuals eligible without spending a dime bus journey throughout South Ayrshire are “dire,” in line with a Labour MSP.
South Scotland Labour Record MSP, Colin Smyth, says the figures present the scheme is ‘failing miserably.’
Mr Smyth, who's Scottish Labour’s Shadow Cupboard Secretary for Internet Zero, Power, Transport and Rural Affairs, has criticised the SNP Authorities’s “botched” younger particular person’s bus go scheme.
Information obtained by Scottish Labour reveal that greater than 70 per cent of eligible younger individuals nonetheless don’t have a go.
It comes 4 months after the flagship scheme was launched — and two years after it was first introduced.
In South Ayrshire, solely 18.1 per cent of the world’s 19,100 eligible younger individuals have a go.
This equates to simply 3,451 passes.
Smyth has referred to as for the method to be ‘streamlined’ and for councils throughout Scotland to be supported by the Scottish Authorities within the implementation of the scheme.
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He mentioned: “Free bus passes for younger individuals ought to have been a excellent news story however these dire figures are a humiliation for the SNP and the Greens, who've spent years speaking about this card however nonetheless failed miserably to ship it.
“The botched scheme is a big missed alternative, which might have unlocked alternatives for kids and younger individuals, eased the price of dwelling disaster for households, and helped us sort out the local weather emergency.
“As a substitute, the SNP’s rampant incompetence has let a uncommon excellent news story descend into chaos – and it's younger people who find themselves paying the value.
“The Scottish Authorities should streamline the method and help different Councils to finish the postcode lottery.”
All younger individuals and kids aged 5-21 years can apply for a card to entry the Younger Individuals’ (Below 22s) Free Bus Journey Scheme, which started on 31 January 2022.
Kids below 5 years outdated already journey without spending a dime on buses and don’t want a card. Purposes for playing cards are open.
A spokesperson for transport minister Jenny Gilruth mentioned Scotland was within the grip of the Omicron variant when the scheme launched and this had affected it.
The spokesperson added: “In January of this yr Scotland, like many different nations, was within the grip of the Omicron variant. In fact this impacted on the rollout of the under-22s scheme initially.
“Nonetheless, for the reason that finish of January, over six million journeys have been made and over 300,000 playing cards issued below the brand new scheme.”
Gilruth’s spokesperson added that quite a few modifications had been made to the net utility course of, including: “The transport minister has mentioned that she is going to proceed to watch the state of affairs and isn't ruling out making additional modifications to the scheme if that's what is required.”
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