Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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168. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to confirm that parents/guardians of children who are blind and in receipt of a free travel pass will also receive a travel pass in their own right; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33131/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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344. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to confirm that the parents of a child (details supplied) who is blind and in receipt of a free travel pass would also receive a travel pass in their own right; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33462/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 344 together.

A person, including a child, who is visually impaired and who meets the medical conditions for Blind Pension, or alternatively is registered as blind with Vision Ireland or the League of the Blind of Ireland, can qualify for a Free Travel Companion pass.

A Companion Free Travel Card entitles the holder to have any one person, aged 16 years or over, to accompany him/her free of charge when travelling.

The Department does not provide a separate free travel pass to the carer of the companion pass holder unless they are in receipt of the Carer's Allowance payment.

Alternatively, under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, a travel supplement may be paid where there is a recurring travel expense, for example, where a person has ongoing travel costs for hospital visits. These payments are awarded at the discretion of the Community Welfare Service after a consideration of all the relevant circumstances of the case. Further information on the SWA scheme can be found at www.gov.ie/swaoffices or by contacting 0818 607080.

Any decision to provide a Free Travel Pass to the parents or guardians of children who are blind can only be considered while taking account of the overall scheme policy and the availability of financial resources.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.