Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the level of fraud associated with the free travel scheme; the number of cases of fraud that have been reported to her Department by CIÉ in each of the past three years; the estimated financial cost of same; the number of passes withdrawn as a result of fraudulent use in the years in question; when the new public service cards will be issued to the public, which will include photographs; the cost involved; if the roll out will be delayed as a result of Government cutbacks; the projected impact that this will have on the cost of operating the free travel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28839/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently some 600,000 people availing of the Free Travel scheme at an annual cost of €66 million.

There have been some 800 cases of suspected misuse of the free travel scheme reported to the Department by CIE in each of the past three years. While the monetary value of a free travel pass depends on usage and varies significantly from individual to individual the loss based on the average value of a free travel pass is estimated at €85,000 for the each of the past three years.

The return of a Free Travel pass following confiscation by a transport inspector is viewed as a serious matter. The vast majority of confiscated passes are not replaced. Replacement passes are only issued where Departmental officials are fully satisfied that it is appropriate to do so.

While the current free travel pass does not display a photograph, holders in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford must obtain an ancillary photo pass from CIE in order to use the CIE Group services. This photo pass is obtained free of charge by eligible pass holders with costs being met by the Department. The annual cost of the provision of the photo pass service in the major cities is approximately €55,000.

It is planned that the initial issue of the new Public Service Card will include new Free Travel Pass customers. The timescale and cost of this programme are currently under review, so it is not possible to predict at this stage the impact on the cost of operating the Free Travel Scheme.