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Social Welfare Benefits

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2022

Thursday, 3 February 2022

Questions (72)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

72. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the free travel pass; the way that this has increased in the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5282/22]

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Written answers

The free travel scheme was introduced in 1967 to promote social inclusion and prevent the isolation of elderly and disabled people by taking advantage of free space on public transport services.

The free travel scheme is available to all persons aged over 66 and those under age 66 on certain qualified payments, who are living legally and permanently in the State. The scheme permits those who are eligible to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, Local Link, LUAS and a range of transport services offered by some 80 private operators countrywide.

The number of customers who were eligible to avail of free travel at the end of 2019 was 966,206; at the end of 2020 it was 999,007; and at the end of 2021 it was 1,022,001. When spousal and companion passes are taken into consideration, the number of free travel beneficiaries (at end 2021) increases to over 1.67 million.I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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