Where the Integrated Ticketing System is enabled by transport operators and the customer is using the new Public Services Card Free Travel variant (rather than the paper free travel pass), it is possible to collect some data on usage. However, as the Integrated Ticketing System has limited roll-out across transport operators at present, the precise data requested by the Deputy is not currently available to my Department. The full roll-out of the free travel variant of Public Services Card will allow for more comprehensive data to be collected on usage or non-usage of free travel when all transport operators have implemented the Integrated Ticketing System. It is important to note however, that if a customer is issued with a free travel pass and does not use it there is no cost to my Department apart from the administrative cost of issuing the pass and maintaining records.
Payments to private travel operators are determined by way of a survey of their passenger numbers at a given point in time. New private operators seeking to enter the free travel scheme or existing private free travel operators seeking an increase in their payments must go through the survey process. Where surveys of operators have not been undertaken in recent years my Department has asked operators to put such surveys in train as part of its control and review strategy.
In addition to the surveys my Department carries out periodic inspections of private operators within the free travel scheme. The inspections are a means of monitoring the scheme to ensure compliance with my Department’s requirements and to confirm information already held on file in relation to operators, routes and schedules. If an operator is found, in the course of an inspection, not to be complying fully with the terms of their agreement, the matter is referred to the National Transport Authority, who is the licensing authority.
My Department makes a block payment to the CIE Group in respect of transport services provided nationwide by the Group and the apportionment of payment between the three constituent companies, Bus Éireann, Bus Átha Cliath and Iarnród Éireann is a matter for the CIE Group to determine.
In relation to CIE, rather than carrying out specific surveys of usage, my Department moved to a service model based on the transportation infrastructure and the introduction of new services e.g. LUAS and removal of the restrictions on free travel during peak hours. At each stage, my Department has negotiated rates and discounts to reflect these developments. Payments for LUAS were calculated on the basis of ridership and ticket survey information.
I am fully committed to maintaining the Free Travel scheme and there are no plans to make any changes to customer eligibility for the scheme.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
