Written answers

Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Department of Social Protection

Free Travel Scheme Administration

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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93. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if there is classification in the free travel scheme between the various groups that qualify for the scheme such as old age pensioners and persons with disabilities, that is, if there is a greater level of funding allocated to one group over the other; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19713/15]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The current free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 90 private transport operators. There are currently in excess of 810,000 customers with direct eligibility with an annual allocation of €77 million.

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.

Allocation of funding for free travel is not based on the various qualifying schemes but on expected passenger numbers who avail of their free travel pass, and as such there is no greater level of funding allocated to one group over any other.

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