Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
392. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection what arrangements, if any, she has made with private bus operators such as CityLink to ensure that there are no charges, such as booking on-line charges to be paid by passengers with free travel passes form her Department and to ensure that a free travel pass means “free travel”; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2630/24]
View answerThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are currently almost 1.1 one million recipients of the Free Travel scheme.
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 CIÉ public transport services, Local Link, LUAS and a range of transport services offered by some 79 private operators countrywide.Under the Free Travel scheme, there is no requirement or impediment for transport operators to provide additional services such as a seat booking service. Some travel operators have introduced online booking services for customers who wish to guarantee their seat on a particular service. This is entirely a matter for the transport operator concerned. Customers wishing to avail of Free Travel do not have to pre-book services with any operator participating in the Free Travel Scheme. They can continue to present on their preferred day of travel and avail of Free Travel using their Public Services Card.
It is open to any Free Travel customer who wants to be guaranteed a seat on a particular service to book their seat in advance, where a pre-booking facility exists. My Department has no control over the fee a transport company may charge for their seat pre-booking facility.I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
