Brendan Griffin
Question:624. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection for clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39795/23]
View answerWednesday, 20 September 2023
Questions (624, 627)
Niall Collins
Question:627. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application (details supplied) will be processed; the reason that this process takes so long; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39838/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 624 and 627 together.
The Free Travel Scheme permits free travel on most CIE public transport services, Local Link, Luas and a range of services offered by some 73 private operators in various parts of the country for those eligible. The scheme is available to all persons aged over 66, and those under age 66 on qualifying payments, who are living legally and permanently in the State.
My Department carries out surveys, on a phased basis, of some 73 private transport operators participating in the scheme and new transport operators applying to join the scheme. Survey work was suspended in early 2020 due to the pandemic for public health reasons, and because survey outcomes at that time, and in that operating environment, would not reflect free travel passenger numbers in normal times. The uncertainty around numbers opting to travel and the consequential lack of reliable survey data made it a difficult time for operators to participate in the scheme.
Since then, my officials have kept a record of those operators who contacted my Department with a view to bringing a new route into the Free Travel scheme, or re-surveying an existing route, until the survey process re-commenced. Surveys resumed in Q1 of 2023 and my officials are working to complete surveys on those transport operators who applied. These surveys are being conducted in date order.
My officials received correspondence from this transport operator on 3 July 2023, detailing his request to bring a transport route into the Free Travel scheme. On the same day, my officials responded outlining that the operator would be added to the list of travel operators requesting to join the Free Travel scheme and that it would be next year before my Department would in a position to start the surveying process for this route to join the scheme.
On the 8 September, my officials received a further request from this operator to bring a second route into the Free Travel scheme. My officials responded acknowledging the request to bring both routes into the scheme and indicating that they will be in touch with them in due course with details of the survey process.
My officials will be in contact with this operator when they are in a position to begin the Free Travel survey process.
I trust this clarifies matter for the Deputy.