Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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583. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department keeps an individual record of a person's use of the free travel scheme such as the journeys the person has taken and cost to the State thereof; if so, the purpose of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30083/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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There are currently in excess of 882,000 customers in receipt of free travel. The scheme permits travel for free on most CIE public transport services, Luas and some 80 private operators are also participating in the scheme. Free travel is also available on cross border journeys and within Northern Ireland to those eligible customers over age 66.

Travel operators participating in the scheme are not paid on a per journey basis so all information on an individual’s specific journey or the associated cost is not available. It is possible, however, to collect some non-identifying data on overall usage where the integrated ticketing system (ITS) is enabled by participating transport operators and customers are using the new Public Services Card Free Travel (PSC-FT) variant rather than the old form of paper free travel pass.

The rollout of the ITS by the National Transport Authority to travel operators is ongoing. In parallel with that programme, my Department continues to replace the old paper pass with the new PSC-FT variant. The new pass has been issued already to over 80% of customers who have a free travel entitlement. The completion of these programmes will allow for more comprehensive data to be collected on usage of free travel.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.