Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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712. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the free travel alternatives that exist within his Department to accommodate a person (details supplied) who is not permitted to drive by the State due to a sight impairment but cannot avail of a free travel pass as they are under 66 years of age and are not in receipt of a disability allowance, blind pension, carer's allowance or an invalidity pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25101/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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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 almost 80 private transport operators. Persons resident in Ireland who are over 66 and persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including disability allowance, invalidity pension, partial capacity benefit (under certain conditions) and carer’s allowance, are eligible for the scheme. While medical evidence will be required to determine eligibility for these schemes, it 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.

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.

My Department also provides annual funding contribution of €1.5 million towards the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) which is administered by the National Transport Authority. The rural transport programme provides services to people whose travel needs are not met by existing bus or train services. The Programme aims to enhance and sustain nationwide accessibility, through community based participation, particularly for those at risk of social exclusion.

Any decision to extend the free travel scheme to include persons not in receipt of a primary qualifying payment would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.