Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 April 2018
331. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount of funding her Department has provided to each transport company that participates in the free travel scheme since 2011, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17225/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe free travel scheme permits free travel on most CIE public transport services, Luas and a range of services offered by some 80 private operators in various parts of the country for those eligible under the scheme. The free travel scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. Applicants who are under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and permanently living in the State in order to qualify for the scheme. There are currently 908,675 customers in receipt of Free Travel.
The table details expenditure by my Department in respect of the free travel scheme in the period 2011 - 2017.
|
2017 |
2016 |
2015 |
2014 |
2013 |
2012 |
2011 |
|
|
CIE |
61,549,082.83 |
€61,400,861.94 |
€60,951,683.05 |
€61,211,880.11 |
€61,290,112.66 |
€61,201,721 |
€61,358,000 |
|
Private Operators |
€8,804,859.89 |
€8,521,233.43 |
€7,055,713.71 |
€6,760,076.49 |
€7,166,056.38 |
€7,411,480 |
€7,675,000 |
|
NTA / POBAL |
€1,500,000.00 |
€1,500,000.00 |
€1,500,000.00 |
€1,500,000.00 |
€1,500,000 |
€1,500,000 |
€1,500,000 |
|
Luas / Transdev |
€3,907,500.00 |
3,907,499.64 |
€3,747,235.23 |
€4,067,764.77 |
€3,907,500.00 |
€3,862,457 |
€3,907,500 |
|
Cross Border |
€1,686,933.32 |
€1,708,423.27 |
€1,852,983.28 |
€1,824,193.04 |
€1,487,936.11 |
€1,419,412 |
€1,072,500 |
|
AIFT |
€97,783.57 |
€73,937.91 |
€114,183.51 |
€123,407.57 |
€125,728.93 |
€122,732 |
€84,000 |
Until the end of 2017, my Department paid the CIE Group centrally and the apportionment of payment between its three constituent companies – Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus and Irish Rail – was a matter for the CIE Group to determine itself. However, since Jan 2018, a separate block payment is made to the CIE Group in respect Bus Éireann - Expressway.
The Department does not provide information on the amount of money paid to individual private operators participating in the Free Travel Scheme as this information is considered commercially sensitive.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
