Written answers
Tuesday, 24 October 2023
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Schemes
Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
56. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the changes she is making to her Department’s free travel scheme to support people with epilepsy and other medical conditions who cannot drive but are not in receipt of a social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46185/23]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
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.
As part of Budget 2024 I was particularly pleased to extend my Department’s Free Travel Pass to support people who are medically certified as unable to drive including those with Epilepsy.
The measure will expand access to the Free Travel scheme to:
- People who have never been able to drive due to a disability.
- Drivers who have a license and have been deemed medically unfit to drive for a period of one year or longer. In some cases these drivers will only need the Travel Pass until they are medically certified to drive again.
The measure could also benefit people who return to work, from certain long-term disability schemes, and lose their free travel entitlement after 5 years. If they are deemed medically unfit to drive for a period of one year or longer, they too may qualify for the medical grounds free travel pass.
This measure is a significant expansion of the free travel scheme and will require my Department to develop a new administrative process, engage with outside agencies and transport providers and update the Department’s I.T. systems.
It is for this reason that the implementation date for the measure is July 2024.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
No comments