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

As soon as I get the report, I will see what it says and consider it carefully. The first person I need to talk to is the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, because the Government has made some very positive changes recently in reducing the cost of public transport, particularly for young people.

Perhaps we need to consider that in circumstances where someone is medically certified as being unable to drive or loses his or her driver's licence due to a medical condition, he or she should have an automatic entitlement to a free travel pass regardless of income or whether he or she is in receipt of a welfare payment. That could be the fairest way to deal with this. However, that would probably need to be led by or at least have substantial input from the Minister for Transport.

I am aware, as the Deputy is, that some pensioners, including many farmers, who have a free travel pass never use it, while other people who cannot get a pass have a genuine need for free travel as it would make a huge difference to their lives and in allowing them to live independently. I would like to do something in this are but, as with everything I do, I have to look at the wider consequences.

I am committed to getting the report from my officials, hopefully, in the next few weeks, and we will take the matter from there.

See this speech in context