Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 276: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a private bus operator (details supplied) is no longer operating under the free travel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15564/12]

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 €75.6 million in 2011. The free travel scheme aims to use spare capacity on public and private transport services. Under the National Recovery Plan 2011 – 2014, funding for the scheme is capped at 2010 levels of expenditure for the duration of the plan.

The bus operator in question sought an increase in the funding for this route from January 2011. Regrettably, my Department cannot sanction an increase to this or any other operator at this time. The operator referred to by the Deputy notified my Department of his intention to withdraw his Southern Cross Road to Bray Dart Station route (Licence no. 97052) from the free travel scheme on Friday, 9 March 2012 last.

There are, however, alternative public transport facilities available to free travel pass holders in this area.