Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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1398. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the universal over 70s companion pass will come into effect on 1 September 2025; if all persons over 70 years have now been contacted and supplied with their companion pass; the breakdown of the number of people who will benefit from this measure, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46536/25]

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 would have an entitlement to receive a Free Travel Companion Public Services Card (PSC). The effective date of this budget measure is 29th September 2025. 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 Free Travel Companion. Since the beginning of March 2025, my officials have written to all customers eligible for Free Travel aged over 70 who do not already hold an entitlement to Free Travel Companion to inform them of their entitlement to Free Travel Companion from September 2025.

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

For those whose current Free Travel PSC has not expired, my Department is in the process of issuing new Free Travel Companion PSC's to these customers by post. It is expected that all those in this cohort, who have yet to receive their Free Travel Companion PSC's, will receive their new PSCs in the coming weeks.

Records held by my Department have indicated that over 482,000 Free Travel customers over the age of 70 may benefit from this budget measure.