Written answers
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Department of Social Protection
Social Welfare Benefits
9:00 pm
Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the payment to a private bus operator (details supplied) for persons using free travel passes in view of the rising costs in fuel and the withdrawal of the subsidy on the fuel duty by the Government in 2010 and in view of the fact that Dublin Bus does not operate on the Southern Cross Road in Bray, County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6082/11]
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The free travel scheme permits free travel on most CIE public transport services, Luas and a range of services offered by over 90 private operators in various parts of the country at an annual cost to the exchequer of some â¬74 million in 2010. As outlined in The National Recovery Plan 2011 â 2014, funding for the free travel scheme is now frozen at 2010 levels of expenditure for the duration of the plan. In implementing this measure, my priority is to ensure that the beneficiaries of the scheme, namely the elderly and disabled, are not adversely impacted in this tighter funding situation. In the circumstances, my Department is not currently in a position to consider applications for increased payments under the scheme.
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