Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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475. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current number of people who are availing of the new free travel scheme for those deemed medically unfit to drive; if his Department plan to conduct an awareness campaign to publicise the changes to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9618/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public transport services and and on private transport services operating the Free Travel scheme. There are over 1.1 million customers with direct eligibility for Free Travel.

As part of Budget 2024, Free Travel was extended to people who are medically certified as unfit to drive.

From 29th July 2024, the measure extended access to the Free Travel scheme to:

• people who have never been medically fit to drive due to a disability; and
• drivers who have a license and have been deemed medically unfit to drive for a period of one year or longer.

Application forms are available to download from the Gov.ie website or, alternatively, from any Intreo Centre or by contacting the Free Travel Section by telephone at 0818 200 400 or by email at freetravelqueries@welfare.ie Information in relation to Free Travel is also available on the Citizen's Information website.

As of 31st January 2025, there are 2,634 people availing of Free Travel for those medically unfit to drive.

The extension of Free Travel scheme was announced on International Epilepsy Day on 12th February 2024, when the scheme extension opened for applications. Also, on 29th July 2024, the day the scheme extension became effective, a press release and launch marking the day were undertaken. Both of the above events were widely covered and reported on by mainstream print and broadcast media. There are no plans to conduct an awareness campaign for the scheme at this time.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.