Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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1032.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the take-up to date of the concession of free travel to those medically unfit to drive.[35839/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Free Travel Scheme is available to all persons aged over 66 and those under age 66 on certain qualified payments, who are living legally and permanently in the State. The scheme permits those who are eligible to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, Local Link, LUAS and a range of transport services offered by private transport operators countrywide.

In Budget 2024, entitlement to Free Travel was extended to those who are aged over 17 and under 66, and are medically certified as unfit to drive for a period of at least 12 months. This extension to the scheme is effective from 29th July 2024.

Applications opened for this new scheme extension from 9th May 2024. To date, the Department has received 1,689 applications, of which 1,666 have been processed. 1,566 have been approved.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.