John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1017. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the issues relating to the PPSN issued to a person (details supplied) have now been resolved; if she is aware that the Revenue Commissioners have confirmed that any income showing under this PPSN does not relate to it and is an error; if the disability allowance due to the person will be paid as he is attending the ASD section of the mental health services; and if a full conclusion will be expedited. [38100/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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A means review of the Disability Allowance in payment to the person concerned commenced in May 2023.

As part of the review, employment returns made to the Office of the Revenue Commissioners under their PPS Number were examined. In this case, payments from a Pension Scheme were showing as being paid under the PPS number. The person concerned was contacted to confirm if they were receiving this income. The person concerned advised that they were not in receipt of any income and that they had contacted the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and had received confirmation that an error had occurred on their systems in that income relating to another person was showing under the PPS number of the person concerned.

My Department has accepted this outcome and advised the person concerned to follow up with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners to have their records corrected.

I wish to confirm that the Disability Allowance payment to the concerned person was not interrupted during this review and that they continue to receive their payment, in full, each week.

The person concerned was advised of the outcome of this review by letter dated 20^thJuly 2023.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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1018. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if carers from Northern Ireland are entitled to free travel on public transport in this State; if there are reciprocal arrangements for carers across the island to travel for free on all public transport; if not, the reason that is the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38122/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, 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. There are over one million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2023 is €95 million.

It is important to note that, in general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary Social Protection payments such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance, Blind Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit.

Therefore, the free travel pass is a secondary benefit directly linked to the person being in receipt of Carers Allowance. A free travel pass is not issued solely on the basis of a person being a carer.

A carer who resides in Northern Ireland will not qualify for a free travel pass from this State. Entitlement to a travel pass in Northern Ireland is dependent on the rules there.

The all-Ireland Free Travel Scheme for seniors resident in all parts of the island was introduced in April 2007. The scheme enables seniors (over 66) resident in the Republic to travel free of charge on all bus and rail services in Northern Ireland. Likewise, seniors (over 65) in the North can travel free of charge on bus, rail, air and ferry services participating in the Free Travel scheme in this State.

Any extension to the scheme would have to be agreed with the Northern Ireland authorities and would require additional funding to be put in place.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.