Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1030. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending the free travel scheme from five years to ten years for those returning to work having previously claimed disability allowance, blind pension, or illness benefit (10% of travel pass holders). [38418/23]
View answer1031. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending the free travel scheme from five years to ten years for those returning to work having previously claimed disability allowance, blind pension, or illness benefit (5% of travel pass holders). [38419/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1030 and 1031 together.
The Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over one million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2023 is €95 million.
As recommended in the “Make Work Pay” Report, and to help remove barriers preventing people with disabilities returning to employment any person that moves from certain long-term disability schemes such as Disability Allowance to employment may retain their Free Travel entitlement for a further period of 5 years, where they previously had the entitlement to Free Travel on the scheme(s).
Persons who move from Blind Pension to employment do not lose their entitlement to a Free Travel Pass. Illness Benefit is not a qualifying payment for a Free Travel Pass and therefore there is not an existing entitlement for this group.
Providing an estimate of the cost of measures outlined by the Deputy to those who previously were in receipt of Disability Allowance is not possible as the cost is determined by the usage of the extra passes provided and not by the increased number.
Payment to the transport companies who provide free travel services is complex and multifaceted which also hinders the provision of an accurate costing of the proposed measure.
The proposed measure in essence would further uncouple the link between receipt of particular social welfare payments and eligibility for the free travel scheme and would so fundamentally alter the scheme that it would likely move it away from the Department of Social Protection to become a general access to transport initiative.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
