Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton said yesterday pensioners should not be “enormously worried” about the possibility of losing their entitlement to free travel.
Speaking to reporters at an event in Dublin, she said there had been a funding allocation of €77 million a year to the free transport scheme since 2010, and it was capped at that.
She said there were issues with some of the transport providers who were aware the €77 million a year was a “very, very large spend” by Government.
“I want to put on record how much I value, and the Government values, the free transport scheme. It has been a very valuable resource and benefit for seniors. If I were them I wouldn’t be enormously worried. There’s a review which is part of the overall review of all the headings of expenditure within the Department of Social Protection.”
