Ivor Callely
Question:107 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the measures, if any, he has considered for an extension of the free travel scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4054/96]
Written Answers. - Free Travel Scheme.
The free travel scheme operated by my Department is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years, or over, as well as certain incapacitated people under that age who are in receipt of certain social welfare type payments. The scheme provides free travel, primarily at off-peak periods, to eligible people on the main public and private transport services. Currently, about 470,000 people qualify for free travel at an estimated annual cost this year of some £32.7 million.
The scheme has been improved and extended in recent years as follows: in 1990, the free travel companion pass was introduced for recipients of disabled person's maintanance allowance (DPMA) who could not travel alone, primarily, the mentally handicapped and blind.
The 1991 budget provided that persons who had been in receipt of disabled person's maintenance allowance but had forfeited the allowance by going into health board residential care could retain their free travel passes. In 1992, the companion pass was extended to blind pensioners and in 1993, the companion pass was made available to invalidity pensioners who are wheelchair bound. The issue of free passes to survivors of passholders who are 60-65 years of age was provided for in 1994. In 1995, the companion pass was extended to include existing free travel passholders who are being cared for by a recipient of the carer's allowance.
Also in 1995, the free travel scheme was extended to include passholders wishing to travel to Northern Ireland. In last month's budget, I announced that, with effect from July next, the companion pass will be provided to visually impaired children.
The free travel scheme, in common with the other free schemes operated by my Department, is kept under constant review with a view to identifying the scope for further improvements. Any such proposals fall for consideration in the context of the budget and in the light of available resources.