Vol. 558 No. 5
109 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the free travel pass scheme will be extended to all incapacitated children under the age of 16 years, rather than just children who are registered blind. [24734/02]
The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over, to all carers in receipt of carer's allowance and to carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance. It is also available to certain people with disabilities and people who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. Children who are registered as blind or visually impaired with either the National Council for the Blind of Ireland or the National League of the Blind of Ireland are also entitled to free travel.
Any further extension to the free travel scheme could only be considered in a budgetary context and would have to take account of the financial and other needs of those not covered by the existing arrangements.
