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Social Welfare Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2022

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Questions (461)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

461. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the free travel scheme to Ukrainian refugees (details supplied) based in rural areas on a temporary basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25854/22]

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Written answers

The 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 approximately 1,030,000 customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2022 is €95 million.

It is really important to note that, in general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary Social Protection payments such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance, Blind Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit. A free travel pass cannot be awarded on a discretionary or compassionate basis.

While consideration is always given to any requests to improve or extend eligibility to the free travel scheme, any decision to award a free travel pass on a discretionary or compassionate basis would fundamentally alter the scheme and would require additional funding for the free travel scheme and would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.

Extending the free travel pass to Ukrainian families would also leave the Department open to challenges under the Equal Status Act as it would be conferring additional benefits to this cohort of refugees, while refugees from other countries would not be entitled to the free travel pass.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may award a travel supplement, where the circumstances of the particular case so warrant. The supplement is intended to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the individual 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.

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