Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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189. To ask the Minister for Social Protection whether a person who holds a companion pass for a child with a disability can be issued with another companion pass to assist with other children who have to accompany them on public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20965/17]

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 over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 880,000 customers with direct eligibility with an annual allocation of €80 million. The scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. To qualify for the scheme, applicants who are under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment. These are invalidity pension, blind pension, disability allowance, carer’s allowance or an equivalent social security payment from a country covered by EC Regulations or one with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement.

A companion free travel pass entitles the pass holder to have any one person, aged 16 years or over, to accompany him/her free of charge when travelling. In addition to this, people in receipt of carers allowance or benefit from my Department are also entitled to a free travel pass in their own right.

There are no plans at this time to increase the number of such companions that may travel without charge under the scheme.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.