James McDaid
Question:45 Dr. McDaid asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of people eligible for free travel; and if he will give an estimate of the percentage using the facility (details supplied). [2100/97]
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 welfare type payments. The scheme provides eligible people with free travel on a range of services provided by the CIE group of companies as well as on the services provided by a large number of private transport operators.
There are currently about 486,000 people who qualify for free travel but my Department does not have statistics on the number of eligible people who avail of the facility. The cost of the free travel scheme in 1997 will amount to an estimated £32.60 million. There are currently 56 private transport operators participating in the free travel scheme. These include eight bus operators, two ferry companies and one helicopter service which provides free travel services in County Donegal. Since the beginning of 1994, a total of 26 private operators have been admitted to the free travel scheme. These include six operators who provide free transport services in County Donegal. My Department is willing to consider further applications from licensed transport operators in County Donegal and from other parts of the country who may wish to participate in the free travel scheme.