Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:388. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of the funding allocation made available under the free travel scheme to all private transport operators. [22570/24]
View answerTuesday, 21 May 2024
Questions (388)
Written answers
The Free Travel scheme is available to people over 66 years and to people in receipt of certain social welfare payments who are under 66 years. From 29th July 2024, Free Travel is also available to persons who are medically certified as unfit to drive for a period of at least 12 months. Free Travel recipients must be permanently resident in the State. The scheme permits travel for free on most public transport services, Luas, Local Link and 82 private operators. Free travel is also available on cross border journeys, and within Northern Ireland, for those over age 66.
At the end of April 2024, there were 1,099,732 qualified primary recipients; and the total number of beneficiaries increases to over 1.8 million when spouse and companion passes are included.
My Department is not in a position to provide an individual breakdown per private transport operator, as this is commercially sensitive.
Below is a table of total payments made to all private transport operators in my Department’s Free Travel scheme for the last 5 years.
|
2019 |
€14,772,363.79 |
|
2020 |
€15,958,086.63 |
|
2021 |
€15,663,090.80 |
|
2022 |
€15,510,349.26 |
|
2023 |
€16,471,089.24 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.