Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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234. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will review a decision to refuse a companion travel pass in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15123/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned is in receipt of invalidity pension and qualifies for free travel in his own right. However, to qualify for a free travel companion pass, he must be medically assessed as unfit to travel alone as well as satisfying the other qualifying conditions of the scheme.

The person concerned applied for the companion pass in February 2017. The application was submitted to a medical assessor for consideration. The medical evidence provided was dated 2013 and it was the view of the medical assessor that it did not indicate the need for a companion while travelling.

The person concerned was advised of the outcome of their application on 8th March 2017. They can appeal this decision by submitting further more up-to-date medical evidence in support of their case with a particular emphasis on the medical aspects of their condition which would indicate that they should not travel unaccompanied.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.