A free travel companion pass enables a person 16 years of age or over to accompany the pass holder free of charge. Companion passes are available to persons who qualify for free travel as the recipients of social welfare type payments in respect of a disability and who, on account of their disability, are unable to travel alone. The majority of companion pass holders are either blind or mentally handicapped. It is now also to be available to those on carer's allowance as announced in the budget.
The standard free travel pass, which is available to all persons 66 years of age or over, enables the spouse of the pass holder under 66 years of age to travel free of charge when accompanying the pass holder. The extension proposed by the Deputy whereby a third party could accompany the pass holder where the spouse cannot do so by virtue of age or infirmity would involve a significant expansion of the companion pass facility and could only be considered in the light of additional resources being made available.