Ms Anne Graham:

That is correct. The free travel scheme was closed to new services at the time. We were not in a position to request assistance from the Department of Social Protection for those services. We put in place a concessionary fare to try to reduce the cost to the State of delivering that service. That has changed since 2014. We are in receipt of funds from the Department of Social Protection for those services and we able to ensure there is no payment by free travel pass holders.