Vol. 519 No. 2
259 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if companion bus passes for those in receipt of the invalidity pension were considered at his review in April 2000; if a decision was made to award such persons a companion bus pass, bringing them into line with those in receipt of disability benefit and allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13476/00]
261 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, he has to ease the terms of eligibility for the companion free travel pass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13546/00]
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 259 and 261 together.
Free travel is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over, to all carers in receipt of carer's allowance and to carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relatives allowance. It is also available to people with disabilities who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
Free travel companion passes have been available since 1990 to persons who qualify for free travel and who, on account of their disability, are unable to travel alone. The companion pass enables a person 16 years of age, or over, to accompany the pass-holder free of charge. The person concerned has not submitted an application for the companion free travel pass scheme.
A review of the free schemes was recently published by the Policy Institute, Trinity College Dublin. The review examined the issue of extending the companion free travel pass scheme to all people with disabilities and noted that CIE has expressed concerns about the operation of the companion pass, in particular that anecdotal evidence would suggest that some pass-holders are quite capable of travelling alone. In this regard, the review notes that companion passes should be issued only to people who have definite needs.
However, in view of the free travel scheme's objective to encourage recipients to remain mobile, the review recommends that a companion pass should be issued to all people with disabilities who are unable to travel alone. The review estimates that the cost of extending the companion free travel pass scheme to all people in receipt of invalidity pension, regardless of their disability, would be in the region of £1 million.
The report examines a large number of issues and requires detailed consideration. I will carefully examine all the recommendations made in this report in the context of future budgets and available resources.
