Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

201. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide assurance that there are no plans to abolish the free travel passes for companions of the elderly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4735/15]

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

There are currently approximately 800,000 people in Ireland in receipt of free travel at an annual cost of €77 million per annum. The free travel scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. Applicants who are under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to qualify for the scheme. The qualifying payments for those aged under 66 are invalidity pension, blind pension, disability allowance, carer’s allowance or an equivalent social security payment from a country covered by EC Regulations or one with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement.

I am pleased to note that in its recent “Statement of Government Priorities, 2014-2016” the Government committed itself to the full retention of the free travel scheme.