Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In March 2012, the Ministers for Social Protection and Transport, Tourism and Sport agreed to establish an interdepartmental working group to examine and report on the operation and future development of the free travel scheme. The review has been led by the Department of Social Protection but also comprised officials from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the National Transport Authority and my Department.

The terms of reference included the objectives of the scheme, eligibility, the extent of service provided, data on usage of the scheme, fraud and control measures and the interaction between stakeholders in the scheme. As part of the review, meetings have been held with elderly people, carers, people with disabilities and transport operators. It is expected that the review will be concluded in the coming weeks and considered by the Government in the normal course. The Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection has indicated her endorsement of the scheme in recent days.

Under the terms of the national recovery plan 2011 to 2014, introduced by the previous Government, expenditure on the free travel scheme has been capped at the 2010 allocation of €77 million per annum, reflecting the tight budgetary constraints in which we are operating.

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