John Browne
Question:83 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total number of eligible pensioners who do not claim free travel in this country. [7286/96]
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.
People who qualify for a pension from my Department on reaching the age of 66 receive their free travel passes automatically. A similar arrangement applies in the case of other eligible categories such as recipients of invalidity pension and disabled person's maintenance allowance. However, statistics are not maintained by my Department as to the number of people who have an entitlement to free travel but choose not to apply for it or who, having a free travel pass, choose not to avail of it.