Dail Éireann · 2024-04-25
2 contributions · 2 speakers · 179 words
The Irish Epilepsy Association has consistently advocated for the provision of the free travel pass to people with epilepsy who have been deemed ineligible to drive. The Minister has responded very generously to that request and now proposes to make the free travel pass available to people with epilepsy. The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme.
As part of budget 2024, I was particularly pleased to extend access to free travel to people who are medically certified as unfit to drive, including those with epilepsy. From July 2024, the measure will extend access to the free travel scheme to people who have never been medically fit to drive due to a disability and to drivers who have a licence and have been deemed medically unfit to drive for a period of one year or longer.
Built by scoring every sentence in the debate on how distinctive its language is, then quoting the highest-scoring ones back word for word and in the order spoken. Nothing is paraphrased or invented — if a sentence appears here, it was said in the chamber. Drawn from 179 words across 2 contributions by 2 speakers.
How often each word appears across the whole debate, ranked by how distinctive it is to this debate rather than common to all parliamentary language.
All 2 contributions, start to finish, in the order they were made.
The Irish Epilepsy Association has consistently advocated for the provision of the free travel pass to people with epilepsy who have been deemed ineligible to drive. The Minister has responded very generously to that request and now proposes to make the free travel pass available to people with epilepsy. Will she outline the details of the scheme and particularly how the application process will work?
I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over 1 million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel for 2024 is €103.5 million.
As part of budget 2024, I was particularly pleased to extend access to free travel to people who are medically certified as unfit to drive, including those with epilepsy. From July 2024, the measure will extend access to the free travel scheme to people who have never been medically fit to drive due to a disability and to drivers who have a licence and have been deemed medically unfit to drive for a period of one year or longer. There will be no requirement to satisfy a means test or that the person be in receipt of a social protection payment to qualify for the medical free travel pass.
My officials are currently working to implement the new scheme extension, including the drafting of relevant qualifying criteria, development of administrative and IT systems and the development of an application process. Applications will open in May. Application forms will be available to download from the Gov.ie website, from any Intreo centre or by contacting the free travel section by telephone at 0818 200 400 or by email freetravelqueries@welfare.ie. Applications will then be processed and customers will be notified of the decision. I encourage those wishing to avail of this extension to the free travel scheme to apply early.
My Department will undertake an information campaign to ensure eligible customers are aware of the reforms and also provide details of the application process. I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.