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Free Travel Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 May 2019

Wednesday, 15 May 2019

Ceisteanna (261)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

261. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration has been given to the introduction of a scheme by which senior citizens living in remote areas would have a contribution to transport costs paid for in cases in which there is no access to public transport; her views on whether the free travel scheme is of little benefit to these persons; and if additional supports are necessary. [21072/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The 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 over 940,000 customers with direct eligibility. Following Budget 2019 the funding for the free travel scheme was increased by €5 million to a total of €95 million.

A further provision of €10 million was made for the existing scheme in Budget 2018 to facilitate more private commercial operators joining the free travel scheme for the first time, existing participants adding more routes, and operators returning to the scheme where they had previously withdrawn. My Department also provides €1.5 million in funding towards the rural transport programme which enables the development of better links between local/rural transport, and scheduled bus/rail services.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection may award a travel supplement in any case where the circumstances of the case so warrant. The supplement is intended to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.

Any decision to introduce a new scheme to give a travel allowance to senior citizens living in remote areas would have considerable budgetary consequences, would require significant administrative procedures to be put in place to decide which pensioners lived in areas that were sufficiently remote to qualify, and would have to be considered in the context of budget negotiations.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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