Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
445. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address the anomaly whereby people who are wheelchair users and who are receiving a civil service pension and who are not in receipt of a disability allowance cannot access free travel while under 66 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18965/24]
View answerThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over one million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2024 is €104 million.
It is 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, Carers Allowance, Blind Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit.
As part of Budget 2024, I was particularly pleased to extend access to Free Travel to people who are medically certified as unfit to drive, including those with epilepsy. From July, this measure will extend access to the Free Travel scheme to:
• People who have never been medically fit to drive due to a disability; and
• Drivers who have a licence and have been deemed medically unfit to drive for a period of one year or longer.
There will be no requirement to satisfy a means test or that the person be in receipt of a Social Protection payment to qualify for the medical free travel pass.Any decision to further expand the Free Travel scheme measures announce in Budget 2024 would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
