Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of the ongoing review is to examine and report on the current operation and future development of the free travel scheme. The group's terms of reference are wide-ranging and involve the examination of several issues, ranging from the control of fraud, which the Senator mentioned, and abuse of administration. There are currently 780,000 persons in receipt of free travel. The Government has no intention of interfering with this. The Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, will examine the report of the working group as soon as it is available. However, on the specific issue of recipients, the Minister has made it abundantly clear that she does not envisage any changes to the benefits of recipients under this scheme. The Minister cannot be any clearer on the issue. It is about time Fianna Fáil listened to the undertaking the Minister has given in this regard.