Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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4. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to change the ruling where there is no entitlement to a companion pass under the carer's allowance scheme and the free travel scheme to allow the carer to travel free of charge with the caree in certain instances, especially where the caree is severely disabled, has a primary medical certificate and needs to attend hospital appointments in Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8001/16]

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 80 private operators in various parts of the country. Free travel is also available on cross border journeys to and from Northern Ireland. Additionally, customers aged 66 years and over can travel for free on journeys within Northern Ireland. There are currently approximately 848,000 customers with direct eligibility for Free Travel.

Persons resident in Ireland who are over 66 years of age and persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments (including disability allowance, invalidity pension and carer’s allowance) are eligible for the scheme. While medical evidence will be required to determine eligibility for these schemes, such evidence of itself does not entitle anyone to free travel. It is the fact of being in receipt of a qualifying payment, rather than the fact of having a disability, that gives rise to the entitlement.

There are no plans to extend the scheme to persons who are not in receipt of a primary qualifying payment at this time.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) the Department of Social Protection may award a travel supplement in any case where the circumstances of the case so warrant. The supplement is intended to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.