Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The big ticket items in the budget yesterday are there and they are very positive. It certainly achieved a balance by not being an inflationary budget but at the same time helping people when they need help because of the inflationary situation.

I very much welcome the announcement made as part of the social welfare package that the free travel scheme will be extended to people who are certified as not being able to drive for medical reasons. This is extremely fair. There are hundreds of visually impaired people out there who are not technically legally blind but are not allowed to drive for medical reasons because their eyesight is not good enough. Thousands of people with epilepsy similarly cannot drive for medical reasons. It is only fair and proper that they would have access to the free travel scheme. I have been calling for this for a long time. I had hoped it would happen in budgets over the years but thankfully the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, was able to do it in this year for 2024. I very much welcome this. It creates an equality across the board and it gives people access to transport, which is extremely important.