Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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153. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration could be given to the provision of free transport to those in emergency accommodation. [8363/25]

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 certain primary Social Protection payments, mainly related to disability and caring.

Any decision to expand the eligibility criteria for the free travel to include those in emergency accommodation would have to be considered in a wider budgetary and policy context.

My Department does provide Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers and include help towards recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the person's own resources and are deemed to be necessary.

Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications can be made online via .

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.