Written answers
Wednesday, 14 February 2024
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Schemes
Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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235. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection regarding a recent refusal of free travel to a person (details supplied), as the applicant is under the age of 66 years and is not in receipt of any of the qualifying payments, but rather on a widows pension, and given the medical evidence submitted with the application, if she will make an allowance in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6783/24]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public transport services provided by the State, and some private transport services, for those eligible under the scheme.
Currently, applicants who are under 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to qualify for the scheme.
The qualifying payments for those aged under 66 are Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension (or a person who is blind or severely visually impaired and satisfies the medical conditions for a blind pension, or registered with Vision Ireland), Disability Allowance, Incapacity Supplement with Disablement Pension for at least 12 months, Carer’s Allowance, or an equivalent social security payment from a country covered by EU Regulations or one with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement.
I regret, based on the information available, the person concerned does not qualify for the Free Travel scheme at this time as she is not getting a qualifying payment.
From July, the Free Travel scheme will be available to people who have never been able to obtain a driving licence due to a medical condition. I am also making the scheme available to people who have a licence but are medically certified as not fit to drive for 12 months or longer. My Department is working on the required system changes to deliver this extension of Free Travel from July, while application forms will be available from May for those who wish to apply.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may award a travel supplement, where the circumstances of the particular case so warrant. The supplement is intended to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the individual case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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