Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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209. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when the interdepartmental working group on the free-travel scheme was established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31288/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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210. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the membership of the interdepartmental working group on the free-travel scheme. [31289/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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212. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when the interdepartmental working group on the free-travel scheme will report its findings; if these will be made public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31291/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 209, 210 and 212 together.

The Free Travel Scheme permits customers to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, LUAS and a range of services offered by up to 90 private operators in various parts of the country. Free travel is also available on cross border journeys to and from Northern Ireland. Customers aged 66 years and over can travel for free on journeys within Northern Ireland. There are currently approximately 836,000 customers in receipt of free travel.

In 2012, along with the then Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I established an interdepartmental working group to review the free travel scheme, comprising officials from the Department of Social Protection, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the National Transport Authority.

The purpose of the review was to examine and report on the current operation and future development of the free travel scheme. Owing to the range of policy changes implemented since its establishment, the scheme is now universally available to all persons permanently living in the State aged 66 and over as well as carers in receipt of carers allowance and certain others such as persons in receipt of disability allowance and invalidity pension.

The interdepartmental group has concluded its work. The report is being considered by high level officials in my Department and I expect to see a copy of the report shortly. While I will read it with interest, I have stated on a number of occasions that I believe that this is a very good scheme which should remain in place, and I am committed to its retention.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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211. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the terms of reference of the interdepartmental working group on the free-travel scheme. [31290/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Free Travel Scheme permits customers to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, LUAS and a range of services offered by up to 90 private operators in various parts of the country. Free travel is also available on cross border journeys to and from Northern Ireland. Customers aged 66 years and over can travel for free on journeys within Northern Ireland. There are currently approximately 836,000 customers in receipt of free travel.

In 2012, along with the then Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I established an interdepartmental working group to review the free travel scheme.

Before the group concluded its deliberations, the policy context changed somewhat with the publication last year of the “Statement of Government Priorities, 2014-2016” which commits to the “full retention of the Free Travel Scheme”.

The terms of reference for the review were to:

“1. Clarify the scheme objectives and examine the current validity of the objectives, including their compatibility with the overall strategy of the Department of Social Protection and with national transport strategy;

2. Examine the customer group eligible for free travel and, if necessary, make recommendations on the better targeting of the scheme and changes to eligibility;

3. Examine the extent of the service provided and, if necessary make recommendations to adjust the service;

4. Identify the data on usage which is available, deficiencies in data collection and make recommendations for improving data collection;

5. Examine the issue of fraud and control and make recommendations for improvements, particularly in the context of the introduction of the Public Services Card;

6. Examine the levels of funding for the Free Travel scheme in the context of overall exchequer funding for transport and the respective roles of PSO and Free Travel funding;

7. Consider the interaction between DSP, DTTS, NTA and transport companies, their respective roles and make recommendations for the improvement to the administration of the scheme and the potential for an increased role by the NTA.”

The interdepartmental group has concluded its work. The report is being considered by high level officials in my Department and I expect to see a copy of the report shortly. While I will read it with interest, I have stated on a number of occasions that I believe that this is a very good scheme which should remain in place, and I am committed to its retention.