Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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36. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to ensure that any bus company awarded a public service obligation route will continue to accommodate the free travel pass scheme. [17972/15]

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 some 80 private operators in various parts of the country for those eligible under the scheme. There are currently in excess of 810,000 customers with direct eligibility with an annual allocation of €77 million.

As regards routes with Public Service Obligation funding that go out to tender, including routes previously operated by CIÉ, it is my intention that private operators will be able to apply to participate in the free travel scheme.