Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 September 2025
110. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who have received the free travel pass since it was extended to persons who are medically unable to drive, by county; the cost of this expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50596/25]
View answerThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public transport services and and on private transport services operating the Free Travel scheme. There are over 1.1 million customers with direct eligibility for Free Travel.
As part of Budget 2024, Free Travel was extended to people who are medically certified as unfit to drive.
From 29th July 2024, the measure extended access to the Free Travel scheme to:
• people who have never been medically fit to drive due to a disability; and
• drivers who have a license and have been deemed medically unfit to drive for a period of one year or longer.
There is no requirement to satisfy a means test or that the person be in receipt of a Social Protection payment to qualify for Free Travel for those medically unfit to drive.
Application forms are available to download online at www.gov.ie/ft. Alternatively, application forms are available from any Intreo Centre, or by contacting the Free Travel Section by telephone at 0818 200 400 or by email at freetravelqueries@welfare.ie. Information in relation to Free Travel is also available on the Citizen's Information website.
Records held by the Department indicate that 3,478 customers were benefiting from this extension to the Free Travel scheme at end August 2025 (see table by county in the attached document).
Additional funding was allocated to the Free Travel budget for this extension of the scheme.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
