James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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165. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to fully retain the free travel scheme; his further plans to make changes to the scheme in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23480/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The 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.

I am keenly aware that the free travel pass is a valuable support for older people and people with disabilities, and that it has a significant role in preventing their isolation and promoting social inclusion. I have no plans to introduce any measures which would reduce the benefit of the pass to beneficiaries or to reduce the number of people who qualify and I am fully committed to its retention.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.