Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 314: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total budget allocated to the free travel pass scheme nationally; the private operators' allocations per county; if she will provide clarification of the compensation awarded due to extreme remoteness and high level of deprivation, PSO, no train service, distance from the general hospital, distance from large towns, banking services, essential services, health clinics and so on; if a service is discontinued by the operator, the position regarding the awarded free travel pass allocation toward that service; if she will provide the results of the most recent value for money and performance audit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15217/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The free travel scheme permits free travel on most CIE public transport services in all counties, Luas and a range of services offered by over 90 private operators in various parts of the country. Free travel is also available on cross border journeys between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In addition, customers aged 66 years and over can travel for free on journeys within Northern Ireland. The free travel scheme was provided at an annual cost to the exchequer of some €74 million in 2010. Expenditure on this scheme has been frozen at 2010 levels in line with the National Recovery Plan 2011 – 2014. The number of private operators based per county and details of the amounts paid under the free travel scheme are as follows.

In addition to the free travel scheme, the Department pays an annual contribution of €1.5 million to the Rural Transport Programme. The aim of this programme is to encourage innovative community based initiatives to provide transport services in rural areas with a view to addressing the issue of social exclusion caused by lack of access to transport. Route analysis and provision of transport services is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport. The free travel scheme is currently being reviewed in the context of the Government's comprehensive expenditure review.