Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
521. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if the free transport scheme will be extended to include travel to HSE day services across older persons, disability and mental health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25045/20]
View answerThe free travel scheme 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 companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 979,000 customers with direct eligibility. The 2020 funding allocation for the free travel scheme is €95 million.
One of the key aspects of the free travel scheme is that the service provided is via open, publicly available services. In contrast, the door to door transport services provided by the HSE are only open to HSE service users and consequently those services are considered a closed service. The vehicles participating in this service would be considered private hire vehicles.
Any decision to allow people to use their free travel passes on private hire vehicles would lead to similar requests from other groups that provide private hire vehicles and would place significant extra costs on the free travel scheme. It would lead to a fundamental change to the nature of the Free Travel Scheme and would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA), my Department may award a travel supplement in any case where the circumstances of the case so warrant. The supplement is intended to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the person's own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
