Free Travel Scheme Review

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2015

Thursday, 25 June 2015

Questions (72)

Anne Ferris

Question:

72. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 289 and 290 of 1 April 2014, if the working group referred to in her reply has concluded its work yet; if there is a report available from the working group; if the working group considered whether bus passes will continue to be accepted on Dublin Bus routes 17, 17a, 18, 75, 76, 76a, 102, 104, 33a, 33b, 45a, 59, 63, 111, 114, 161, 184, 185, 220, 236, 238, 239 and 270, once they are put out for tender under a public service contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25550/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Free Travel Scheme permits customers to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, LUAS and a range of services offered by up to 90 private operators in various parts of the country. Free travel is also available on cross border journeys to and from Northern Ireland. Customers aged 66 years and over can travel for free on journeys within Northern Ireland. There are currently approximately 828,000 customers in receipt of free travel.

In 2012, along with the then Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I established an interdepartmental working group to review the free travel scheme. The purpose of the review was to examine and report on the current operation and future development of the free travel scheme. Owing to the range of policy changes implemented since its establishment, the scheme is now universally available to all persons permanently living in the State aged 66 and over as well as carers in receipt of carers allowance and certain others such as persons in receipt of disability allowance and invalidity pension. The interdepartmental group has concluded its work and I expect to see a copy of its review shortly.

While the privatisation of public transport services is a matter for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, it is my understanding that any tendering process will include a requirement for successful bidders to accept the free travel pass.