Vol. 404 No. 5
21 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has any proposals to extend the companion pass to include persons in receipt of social welfare blind pensions and old age or invalidity pensions who are medically certified as incapable of travelling on their own.
I introduced the free travel companion pass in November 1990 to help people in receipt of disabled persons's maintenance allowance, particularly mentally handicapped, who would otherwise qualify for the free travel scheme but who are unable to travel without the assistance of a companion.
The extension of the companion pass to include recipients of other social welfare pensions would have substantial cost implications. There are no plans for such an extension at present but I will keep this matter under review.
