Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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287. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will liaise with the Minister for Social Protection to provide an increase to Bus Éireann in the reimbursement it receives for carrying bus pass customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14555/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Free Travel Scheme is a non-statutory scheme under the administration of my colleague the Minister for Social Protection. As such funding levels associated with the Scheme are primarily a matter for that Minister.

However, I have publicly acknowledged the concerns expressed in recent times in relation to the current levels of funding associated with the Scheme and its potential impact on public transport operators, including Bus Éireann.

As I have previously informed the Deputy, I have written to my colleague the Minister for Social Protection in relation to these concerns and we have mandated our Departments to work together to review this matter.