Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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278. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department still issues letters to all free travel pass holders a minimum of 21 days prior to the expiration of the free travel pass to remind holders to ensure that they get their card renewed before expiry date. [39712/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Free Travel scheme is available to people over 66 years and to people in receipt of certain social welfare payments who are under 66 years. From 29th July 2024, Free Travel is also available to persons from age 17 to 66 who are medically certified as unfit to drive for a period of at least 12 months. Free Travel recipients must be permanently resident in the State.

The scheme provides free travel on most CIE public transport services, Luas, Local Link and some 74 private commercial operators. Free travel is also available on cross border journeys and, for those aged 66 or over, within Northern Ireland.

At the end of August 2024, there were 1.11 million recipients; and the total number of beneficiaries increases to over 1.83 million when spouse and companion passes are included.

Prior to the Covid 19 pandemic, letters issued to customers 90 days in advance of the expiration of the Free Travel Public Services Card (FT PSC), to advise them to get their card renewed before it expired. This letter was stopped during the pandemic due to the closure of my Department's offices at the time. An agreement was put in place at the time with the National Transport Authority and the private operators, which remains in place, to accept expired FT PSC's on their services.

My Department is working to restart issuing this letter advising free travel customers of the expiration for their FT PSC, as soon as possible. It should also be noted that the expiry date is printed on the front of every FT PSC. In the interim, it is open to any free travel customer with a FT PSC which is already expired, or is due to expire within the next 3 months, to have their FT PSC renewed.

The easiest way to renew a FT PSC is online at . For any person who is unable to avail of the online service and wishes to renew their FT PSC in person, they should contact their nearest Intreo/PSC Centre.

I hope this clarifies the position for you.