Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very glad the Deputy asked this question because I want to make an absolutely emphatic statement that there is absolutely no suggestion of free travel being taken away from anybody. That is not what is at issue, and anybody who makes that suggestion is either being mischievous or misunderstanding what is going on. This is about how free travel will be funded in respect of Bus Éireann and how it gets its share of it. I have not spoken to anyone in government about removing free travel, I will not initiate any proposals to do so and I would not countenance any proposals to do so.