Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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87. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the possibility of extending free travel to all carers in receipt of the respite care grant so as to enhance access to services and reduce social isolation, particularly for carers living in rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33459/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The free travel scheme is available to people over 66 years, and to people in receipt of certain disability or carer type payments.There are currently almost 800,000 customers in receipt of free travel. Since 2007 free travel customers have increased by more than 25%. The scheme permits travel for free on most CIE public transport services, Luas and up to 90 private operators.

The annual provision for the scheme is €77 million.

Funding for the free travel scheme was capped by the previous Government as outlined in the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014. To implement this funding cap during a time in which passenger numbers have been increasing each year the Department has had to impose a freeze on the amounts paid to companies and a complete restriction on the admittance of new companies or routes to the scheme. This has included new companies taking over previously extant routes. Free travel was envisaged as a way of providing some additional support for those who are elderly or on long-term means-tested disability or carers payments. As the respite care grant is not a long-term scheme, free travel is not available. I am not in a position to consider extending the free travel scheme beyond the current group of qualifying payments.

Given the increasing number of recipients and the funding pressures, an inter Departmental Committee commenced a review of the scheme last year. This Committee is made up of representatives of this Department, the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Public Expenditure and Reform and the National Transport Authority. It is expected to conclude its work shortly.