Written answers
Wednesday, 1 March 2023
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Departmental Expenditure
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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125. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of the "free travel scheme" to her Department in each year since 2010; the number of persons each year over the same period with free travel passes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10444/23]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Free Travel Scheme was introduced in 1967 to promote social inclusion and prevent the isolation of elderly and disabled people by taking advantage of free space on public transport services.
The Free Travel Scheme is available to all persons aged over 66 and those under age 66 on certain qualified payments, who are living legally and permanently in the State. The scheme permits those who are eligible to travel for free on most CIÉ public transport services, Local Link, LUAS and a range of transport services offered by some 74 private operators countrywide.
Below is a table of free travel budget allocation and recipient numbers, by year, from 2010 to 2022.
| At year end | Budget Allocation in € millions | Number of Free Travel primary recipients |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 77 | 699,164 |
| 2011 | 77 | 726,412 |
| 2012 | 77 | 754,731 |
| 2013 | 77 | 782,529 |
| 2014 | 77 | 812,892 |
| 2015 | 77 | 842,724 |
| 2016 | 77 | 873,454 |
| 2017 | 80 | 902,513 |
| 2018 | 90 | 934,298 |
| 2019 | 95 | 966,206 |
| 2020 | 95 | *999,007 |
| 2021 | 95 | 1,022,001 |
| 2022 | 95 | 1,054,840 |
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
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