Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2547. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the exploratory work carried out regarding the reintroduction of free travel for students; and if she will provide a costing for the proposal. [34559/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 914,000 customers with direct eligibility.
The scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. To qualify for the scheme, applicants who are under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment. These payments are invalidity pension, blind pension, disability allowance, carer’s allowance or an equivalent social security payment from a country covered by EC Regulations or one with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement. At no time was being a student a qualifying criteria for the Department’s free travel pass.
The objective of the free travel scheme is to ensure older people and people with disabilities remain active within their community. Extending the eligibility of the free travel scheme to include people who are not customers of my Department would change this objective, and radically change the nature of the scheme.
Any plans to extend the eligibility criteria for the free travel pass to allow students to qualify would have to be considered in a budgetary context and within the scope of the overall resources available.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
