Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 June 2022
116. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the provisions that are in place within the free travel scheme to allow for a travel pass for a minor under 18 years of age whose full-time carer is in receipt of a travel pass; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34688/22]
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 approximately 1,034,000 customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2022 is €95 million.
There is no provision in place within the Free Travel scheme that allows a free travel pass for a minor under 18 years of age whose full-time carer is in receipt of a travel pass. A free travel pass is only awarded to those aged under 18 when a child aged 16 or over qualifies for a disability allowance payment or when a child is registered as blind.
While my Department does not provide a free travel pass to children aged under 18 in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy, my Department does provide additional support in the form of the Domiciliary Care Allowance. The Domiciliary Care allowance is a monthly payment of €309.50 to the carer of a child aged under 16 with a disability. The allowance may be used for the additional costs involved in caring for the child and this may include additional transport costs.
Support is also available under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme (SWA). A travel supplement may be awarded 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 person'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.
If the Free Travel scheme were to be extended to all children under 18 whose full-time carer is in receipt of a travel pass, significant extra funding would be required and, accordingly, it could only be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
