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 2024 is €104 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, Carers Allowance, Blind Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit.

As part of Budget 2024, I was particularly pleased to extend access to Free Travel to people who are medically certified as unfit to drive, including those with epilepsy.

From 29th of July 2024, the measure will extend access to the Free Travel scheme to:

• People who have never been medically fit to drive due to a disability; and
• Drivers who have a license and have been deemed medically unfit to drive for a period of one year or longer.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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303. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) against the decision to reduce his wife's payment, with particular reference to their high outgoings on medical costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20179/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 5 March 2024. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 17 April 2024 and the case was referred to an Appeals Officer on 1 May 2024. The Appeals Officer will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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304. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person will be permitted to have credits applied to their welfare application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20228/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.

Credited contributions (credits) are social insurance contributions designed to protect the social insurance entitlement record of insured workers who are not in a position to make PRSI contributions. In order to qualify for credits, a person must first have entered insurable employment and paid at least one PRSI contribution at Class A, B, C, D, E, H or P.

Normally, if at any stage in their working life, a person has no PRSI contributions (paid or credited) for two full tax years, they cannot be awarded credits again until they return to work and pay PRSI contributions for at least 26 weeks. Therefore, for a carer to qualify for credits, there must not have been a break of over two years between their last paid or credited contribution and the commencement of their entitlement to CA.

The person concerned does not qualify for CA credits as they do not have any paid or credited contributions for the two years prior to applying for CA.

Invalidity Pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions. A person must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions class (A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance. According to Department records, the person concerned does not satisfy the contribution conditions.

Disability Allowance is a means tested payment for people who are aged over 16 and under 66 who have a specified disability which has continued or may reasonably be expected to continue for a period of at least a year and, as a result of the condition, the person is substantially restricted in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable having regard to the person’s age, experience and qualifications. It is open for the person concerned to apply for this payment.

Long-Term Carers Contribution Periods make it easier for a carer to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory) when they reach pension age. Any period in which a person is registered as providing care to an incapacitated person can be included in their pay-related social insurance record. These periods can be used for State Pension (Contributory) once the carer has reached a minimum of 1040 weeks (20 years). The quickest way to apply for Long-Term Carers Contributions is online at MyWelfare.ie.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.