Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason children under 16 years of age with special needs are not deemed to qualify for free travel while their parent, guardian or carer does qualify; the factual situation applying; his proposals to address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22890/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Free Travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years, or over, to all carers in receipt of Carer's Allowance and to carers of people in receipt of Constant Attendance or Prescribed Relative's Allowance.

The scheme is also available to certain people with disabilities and people who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments. People who are in receipt of a social security invalidity or disability payment from a country covered by EU Regulations, or from a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, and who have been in receipt of this payment for at least 12 months, are also eligible for free travel.

Children who are registered as blind or visually impaired with either the National Council for the Blind of Ireland or the National League of the Blind of Ireland are also entitled to free travel.

The current arrangements for the Free Schemes, including the Free Travel scheme, are kept under review. Any changes in the present arrangements would have to be considered in a budgetary context.