Written answers

Tuesday, 6 October 2020

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Free Travel Scheme

Photo of Bríd SmithBríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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539. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of the road passenger transport operators based in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Westmeath, Leitrim and Longford that received payment from her Department in respect of the carriage of free travel pass holders in each of the years 2015 to 2019; and the individual routes in respect of which payment was made. [28669/20]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Free Scheme is currently available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over, to carers and to customers under 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type payments. There are currently approximately 978,770 customers in receipt of Free Travel. However, over 1.6 million people currently benefit from the scheme when companion and spousal passes are taken into account.

The scheme allows those eligible to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, LUAS, and a range of services offered by up to 80 private operators.

The table below contains the information requested on road passenger transport operators based in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim. Currently there are no operators in the scheme in counties Longford and Westmeath.

County Operator Route In the FT scheme for years 2015 -2019
Cavan Leydon Coaches Swanlinbar- Cavan & the Cross Border Regular Service Authorisation No. 150 Cavan – Enniskillen. Yes
Cavan Operated by Wharton Travel Limited under contract from the NTA. Cavan-Crossdoney-Arva-Drumlish-Longford (Mon-Sun) Yes
Cavan Sillan Tours Ltd. Cootehill- Shercock- Dublin (Daily except Saturday) Yes
Monaghan Collins Coaches Ballybay-Dublin-Ballybay (Mon-Sun) Yes
Monaghan Matthews Coach Hire Dublin - Dundalk (Mon-Sun) Yes
Monaghan Matthews Coach Hire Grange Rath and Dublin Yes
Monaghan Matthews Coach Hire Drogheda and Dublin city, Grange Rath and the IFSC No ( Joined in March 2017)
Monaghan Matthews Coach Hire Dundalk to Dublin IFSC via Drogheda No ( Joined in March 2017)
Monaghan McConnon Travel Ltd. Monaghan-Dublin (Mon-Sat) Yes
Leitrim Brian Doherty Drumkeerin-Carrick-on-Shannon (Tues only) Yes
Leitrim Westlink Coaches Ltd Drumshanbo-Sligo (Mon-Fri) Yes
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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