Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2019
484. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a companion pass will be reinstated in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry following the submission of comprehensive medical evidence outlining the requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40982/19]
View answerThe person concerned was awarded a Free Travel Companion Pass in 2016, to be reviewed in one year. Following review in 2018, the Department's Medical Advisor found that the claimant does not require a Free Travel Companion Pass on medical grounds and subsequently the pass was revoked on 2 November 2018.
Later that month, the claimant reapplied for a Companion Pass. This application was also disallowed on medical grounds on 13 December 2018. The claimant has submitted further medical evidence in support of his claim in April , May and July 2019. I am advised that the person's claim for Companion Pass was again disallowed by a Departmental Medical Adviser on 16 August 2019, as the medical evidence supplied did not indicate that the customer was medically unfit to travel alone.
It remains open to the person concerned to provide additional (or specialist) medical evidence in support of their claim for a companion pass. If further evidence is provided, the matter will be re-examined.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
