Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the points the Deputy is making. I know people who have epilepsy and it is not easy for them. If someone loses his or her licence due to a seizure, that is an awful place to be. I understand that.

As I said, I met with Epilepsy Ireland last year because I wanted to discuss this matter to see what I could do. The problem I have, one that the officials in the Department are at pains to point out to me, is that the free travel pass is linked to the social welfare payment the person receives, whether that is a pension, a disability payment or another payment. It is not based on the person's medical condition or illness but on the payment. If we were to break that link, it would be a fundamental change in how the scheme is run and I imagine it would give rise to calls from other groups. For example, if someone with epilepsy were to get access to the scheme, what about someone who cannot drive because he or she has multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease? I am not saying we should not do it but it is a big change. It has wider implications and for that reason, it needs to be considered carefully.

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