Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have every confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, in making the appointment to this important position in a transparent manner.

Senator Naughton and others referred to the free travel scheme. I wish to clarify the Government's position on this matter. There has been a huge amount of scaremongering about the review of the scheme. However, the Government has made clear that it fully appreciates the importance of the scheme and the value it provides to the hundreds of thousands of people who use it. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, and the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, have made clear that they do not envisage any changes to the benefits received by people under the scheme. The purpose of the review is to consider the current operation and future development of the scheme and to examine a number of issues, particularly the control of fraud. I am sure we would all support the latter. I must point out that the previous Fianna Fáil Government, in its National Recovery Plan 2011-2014, capped funding for the free travel scheme at €77 million per annum. This means that the cap in question predates the current Government, which has proven to be a difficulty. The number of people eligible for free travel has increased each year since 2011 and, as a result, the Department of Social Protection has imposed a freeze on the amounts paid to private companies. That is why such companies have been involved.