Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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16. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department will engage with the Department of Social Protection with regard to the extension of the free travel scheme for car passengers to include the cost of a car on the Passage East Ferry linking Passage East, County Waterford and Ballyhack, County Wexford, given that the ferry is a more sustainable link for elderly persons accessing University Hospital Waterford without having to navigate through the highly congested Waterford city, minimising traffic volume and promoting road safety by reducing the number of road users on heavy traffic routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27374/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy was informed by the Minister for Social Protection on 18 June, the car ferry, to which the Deputy refers, recently commenced accepting Free Travel for pedestrian passengers, effective from 1st June 2024.

Travel by private car, including the cost of a car on a ferry crossing, is not covered under the Free Travel scheme.

It is not my intention to advocate for free travel for cars.

For anyone on a low income experiencing difficulty in paying, they can seek an additional needs payment to help with an expense that they cannot pay from their weekly income such as for recurring travel costs to hospital for appointments, from their local Community Welfare Officer (CWO).

The CWO will look at the individuals’ circumstances and decide if they qualify for the payment.

There are also alternative options for free travel on public transport by bus to and from the ferry on both sides for pedestrians from Wexford to Waterford Hospital.