Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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1413. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the process by which his Department will contact all those aged 70 years or over in receipt of free travel; the way they will receive a FREE TRAVEL COMPANION PUBLIC SERVICES CARD; if his Department has commenced same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19261/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public transport services and on private transport services operating the Free Travel scheme.

As part of Budget 2025, the government announced that from September 2025, all those aged 70 years or over in receipt of Free Travel will have an entitlement to receive a Free Travel Companion Public Services Card (PSC). This means those aged 70 or over with an entitlement to Free Travel can have another person, aged 16 or older, including their spouse or partner, travel with them for free on all transport services provided as part of the Free Travel scheme.

Some of those aged over 70 already hold an entitlement to the Free Travel Companion pass. From the beginning of March 2025, my officials started writing to all other eligible customers to inform them of their entitlement to the Free Travel Companion pass from September 2025 and this process is ongoing.

For those whose current Free Travel PSC has already expired, to avail of their Free Travel Companion entitlement, they are being advised that they need to renew their PSC either online or in person at their local Intreo Centre.

For those whose current Free Travel PSC has not expired, they will receive a new Free Travel Companion PSC by post in advance of September.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.