Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 November 2014
130. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will extend free travel passes to epilepsy sufferers whose drivers' licences have been surrendered until they have gone a year without a seizure; if her attention has been drawn to the systems in place for such persons in the United Kingdom; her views on implementing similar systems here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43831/14]
View answerThere are currently approximately 800,000 people in Ireland in receipt of free travel at an annual cost of €77 million per annum.
The provision of free travel in the United Kingdom, including for people with epilepsy, varies depending on the locality, with a combination of involvement by the UK Government, devolved administrations and local authorities. In many cases, there are only half-fare concessions available and restrictions on the time of use and extent of journeys.
In general free travel in Ireland is available for a much wider group of people, with no restrictions on time or length of journey. The free travel scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. Applicants who are under age 66, including those with epilepsy and other long-term medical conditions, must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to qualify for the scheme. The qualifying payments for those aged under 66 are invalidity pension, blind pension, disability allowance, carer’s allowance or an equivalent social security payment from a country covered by EC Regulations or one with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement.
Any decision to extend the scheme to persons who are not in receipt of a primary qualifying payment would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of budget negotiations.
