Frances Fitzgerald
Question:54 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost of extending free travel to the spouses, in their own right, of persons on disability and/or invalidity pensions. [10011/96]
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 to certain incapacitated people under that age who are in receipt of certain social welfare type payments. Persons in receipt of invalidity pension are eligible as well as their spouses when accompanying the passholder. 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 extension of the free travel scheme to the spouses, in their own right, of those recipients of disability benefit and invalidity pension who are receiving an increase in respect of an adult dependant would involve an estimated additional cost of the order of £1.5 million per annum for approximately 21,000 people.