Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2020
182. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that free travel passes are expiring without notification to users causing the users to be refused access to transport and that reactivation is occurring of these passes; if he has disseminated this information to transport workers in respect of extensions to travel passes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43211/20]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I am responsible for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. I am not involved in day-to-day operational matters. The Free Travel Scheme is a non-statutory scheme administered by the Department of Social Protection. I am advised that the Department of Social Protection has an arrangement in place with the National Transport Authority (NTA) whereby public transport providers accept expired free travel cards, in light of the delays posed by the Covid 19 outbreak.
Communication with transport providers about this is a matter for the NTA. Therefore, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
