Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 July 2023
145. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently in possession of a free travel pass per year from 2017-2023; and the cost to his Department per year, in tabular form. [34657/23]
View answerThe 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 scheme permits free travel on most CIE public transport services, Local Link, Luas and a range of services offered by some 80 private operators in various parts of the country for those eligible. 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.
Below is a table of Free Travel recipients numbers and scheme costs from 2017 to date.
|
Year |
No. of Recipients at year end |
Cost |
|
2023 |
1,072,195 (to end June) |
€95,000,000 (budget allocation) €54,715,443 (to end June) |
|
2022 |
1,054,845 |
€89,569,000* |
|
2021 |
1,022,001 |
€91,266,000 |
|
2020 |
999,007 |
€93,695,000 |
|
2019 |
966,206 |
€93,919,000 |
|
2018 |
934,298 |
€86,810,000 |
|
2017 |
902,513 |
€77,460,000 |
*2022 cost figures are provisional as the Appropriation Accounts are still subject to audit and final sign off by the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
