My Department has not yet set any definitive date for the replacement of the old form of paper free travel pass with the new Public Services Card- Free Travel variant (PSC-FT). I am anxious to do this as soon as possible given the benefits of the PSC-FT to both the customers and travel operators. I will not withdraw the use of the old type pass, however, until I am satisfied that all those customers, having regard to their particular circumstances, have had reasonable opportunities and accommodations made available to them to enable them to register for the PSC-FT and to continue to avail of their free travel entitlement.
To date some 2.63 million Public Services Cards (PSC) have been issued and over 80% of customers with a free travel entitlement have been issued with the PSC-FT. Customers not yet registered for the PSC-FT can continue to use the old form of paper free travel pass as it continues to be valid for use with transport operators who are participating in the free travel scheme.
Registration for the PSC usually involves in-person attendance at an office of the Department. PSC registration stations are in place at over 100 locations nationally. Appointments for registration can be made online, by phone or by simply dropping in. The registration process takes about 15 minutes once all relevant documents are presented.
Where customers are unable to attend in person, other options for registration are available. Selected cohorts have been invited to avail of postal registration including utilisation, with consent, of information already provided to other Government agencies, for example, a photograph supplied in connection with an application for a passport or driving licence. To date, 323,000 people offered this opportunity have been registered via this postal registration process.
In addition, a further 56,000 free travel customers responded recently to a targeted communication from my Department about their particular requirements to complete registration for the PSC-FT. Registration of these customers is now being progressed. Additionally, a mobile registration facility is being rolled out to register customers who face substantial challenges in presenting at a Department location. Group registration at community venues is the preferred mode of utilising these mobile registration facilities but in very exceptional circumstances, single individuals may be registered at their place of residence.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
