It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 1341, 1345, 1366 and 1383 together.
The free travel scheme operated by my Department provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by semi-State companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as services provided by over 80 private transport operators. The scheme also covers air travel to the Aran Islands and Tory Island in certain circumstances.
The vast majority of private contractors providing services under the scheme operate in rural areas. The underlying feature of the scheme is the use of spare capacity on these transport services. I am always willing to consider applications from licensed private transport operators who may wish to participate in the free travel scheme.
There are no plans at present to extend the free travel scheme to include air travel generally. It is possible, of course, for any airline to introduce concessionary fares for specific categories of people, for example pensioners.