Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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117. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 81 and 83 of 22 February 2023, the oversight and accountability measures she applies regarding the operation of the free travel scheme by bus companies, including Bus Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10411/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Free Travel Scheme permits free travel on most CIÉ public transport services, Local Link, Luas and a range of services offered by some 74 private operators in various parts of the country for those eligible. The scheme is available to all persons aged over 66, and those under age 66 on qualified payments, who are living legally and permanently in the State.

Allocation of Government funding for the Free Travel Scheme is dependent on a number of factors, including the number of people in receipt of qualifying benefits, the number of participating companies and routes. This Department carries out surveys, on a phased basis, of around 74 private operators participating in the scheme to review services and funding. In order for any Operator to join the scheme, they must have a valid APL (Annual Passenger Licence) issued by the National Transport Authority. My Department has an ongoing relationship with the NTA in that they will notify my Officials if any operator fails to renew their license, thus rendering them ineligible to be a part of the free travel scheme.

Every operator in my Departments free travel scheme is required to submit a signed annual declaration of compliance, a service level agreement, and a data protection document to ensure their adherence with the terms and conditions of participation in the free travel scheme. Failure to do so will result in the operator in question losing their entitlement to participate in the scheme.

My Department has previously carried out compliance surveys of operators in the free travel scheme to ensure that the operator is adhering to the self-certified signed documents as above.

In relation to the CIÉ Group, rather than carrying out specific surveys of usage, my Department moved many years ago to a service model based on the transportation infrastructure and the introduction of new services e.g., DART, LUAS and removal of the restrictions on free travel during peak hours. At each stage, my Department negotiated rates and discounts to reflect these developments.

My Department will now pay the National Transport Authority in respect of monies previously owed to the CIÉ Group for transport services provided nationwide by Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann PSO routes. The apportionment of payment between the three constituent companies, is a matter for the National Transport Authority in conjunction with the CIÉ Group to determine.

Annual payments are kept under review by way of monthly reports including funding usage and quarterly meetings.

I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.