The Free Scheme is currently available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over, to carers and to customers under 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type payments. There are currently approximately 978,770 customers in receipt of Free Travel. However, over 1.6 million people currently benefit from the scheme when companion and spousal passes are taken into account.
The scheme allows those eligible to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, LUAS, and a range of services offered by up to 80 private operators.
The table below contains the information requested on road passenger transport operators based in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim. Currently there are no operators in the scheme in counties Longford and Westmeath.
County
|
Operator
|
Route
|
In the FT scheme for years 2015 -2019
|
Cavan
|
Leydon Coaches
|
Swanlinbar- Cavan & the Cross Border Regular Service Authorisation No. 150 Cavan – Enniskillen.
|
Yes
|
Cavan
|
Operated by Wharton Travel Limited under contract from the NTA.
|
Cavan-Crossdoney-Arva-Drumlish-Longford (Mon-Sun)
|
Yes
|
Cavan
|
Sillan Tours Ltd.
|
Cootehill- Shercock- Dublin (Daily except Saturday)
|
Yes
|
Monaghan
|
Collins Coaches
|
Ballybay-Dublin-Ballybay (Mon-Sun)
|
Yes
|
Monaghan
|
Matthews Coach Hire
|
Dublin - Dundalk (Mon-Sun)
|
Yes
|
Monaghan
|
Matthews Coach Hire
|
Grange Rath and Dublin
|
Yes
|
Monaghan
|
Matthews Coach Hire
|
Drogheda and Dublin city, Grange Rath and the IFSC
|
No ( Joined in March 2017)
|
Monaghan
|
Matthews Coach Hire
|
Dundalk to Dublin IFSC via Drogheda
|
No ( Joined in March 2017)
|
Monaghan
|
McConnon Travel Ltd.
|
Monaghan-Dublin (Mon-Sat)
|
Yes
|
Leitrim
|
Brian Doherty
|
Drumkeerin-Carrick-on-Shannon (Tues only)
|
Yes
|
Leitrim
|
Westlink Coaches Ltd
|
Drumshanbo-Sligo (Mon-Fri)
|
Yes
|
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.