John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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99. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the plans he has in place to expand the eligibility criteria for the free travel pass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8316/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The objective of the Free Travel Scheme is to ensure older people and people with disabilities remain active within their community by providing access to existing public and private transport routes.

Generally, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is a secondary benefit linked to a person being in receipt of disability payments.

There are over 1.1 million customers with direct eligibility for the scheme. This increases to 1.8 million customers when spouses and companions are included. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2025 is €107.6 million.

Last July, the scheme was expanded to support people who are medically certified as unable to drive for a period of 12 months or more - for example a person with epilepsy. There is no requirement that a person must be in receipt of a Social Welfare payment to qualify for the medical grounds free travel pass.

As part of Budget 2025, a Free Travel Companion Pass will be assigned to all those aged over 70 from September 2025.

Under the Programme for Government, we have committed to protecting the Free Travel Pass.

While my Department's schemes are reviewed on an ongoing basis, any further decision to expand the eligibility criteria for the Free Travel Scheme can only be considered in a budgetary and policy context.