Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2021
398. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the free travel pass cannot be used on services provided by a company (details supplied); if her Department will consider applying its usage to the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33356/21]
View answerAt end May, over 998,800 customers are eligible for free travel, at an annual cost of €95 million. Under the free travel scheme, travel is permitted for eligible customers free of charge on most CIE public transport services, Luas and a range of services offered by some 80 private operators countrywide, who participate in the scheme.
The company concerned already participates in the Free Travel scheme, for a route other than the one referenced by the Deputy. The transport provider concerned has been in contact with my Department in relation to the additional route.
Due to the continuing, though reducing, impact of Covid-19 measures and restrictions on transport service provision, the uncertainty around numbers travelling and the lack of reliable survey data, it is a difficult time to enter new routes to the scheme. Progress in the sector is kept under review and as these variables stabilise and services return to more normal levels, additional routes can be considered for inclusion in the scheme.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
