PAC32-R-2643(i) B Meeting 16/01/2019

Oifig an Ard-Ri:mai,An Roinn Gn6thai Fostaiochta agus Coimirce S6isialai Office of the Secretary General, Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Eilis Fallon Committee Secretariat Committee of Public Accounts Leinster House 2

11 December 2019

Ref: PAC32-l-1699

Dear Eilis,

I refer to your letter dated 27 November 2019 in which you requested a breakdown of the amounts paid to private and commercial operators in respect of the Free Travel Scheme.

I enclose a note, as requested, detailing expenditure under this scheme in 2018. A list of private operators is also attached.

If you have further queries, or if I can help the Committee in any other way, please let me know.

ecretary General Department of Employment Affairs & Social Protection

Aras Mhic Dhiarmada, Sraid Storais, Baile Atha Cliath 1, D01 WY03 Aras Mhic Dhiarrnada, Store Street, Dublin 1, D01 WY03 [email protected] I + 353 1 704 3896 I www.welfare.ie Expenditure under Free Travel Scheme - REF: PAC32-I-1699

The Free Travel Scheme was introduced in 1967 for old age pensioners and blind pensioners to take advantage of spare capacity on public transport at off-peak times. Since that time, the cohorts of people entitled to Free Travel has expanded significantly and use of the service has been expanded to peak as well as off-peak times. The scheme continues to be funded by the Exchequer. The table below outlines expenditure under the Free Travel Scheme in 2018.

2018 Expenditure Free Travel Scheme CIE Main Payment €48,913,936.00 Bus Éireann Expressway €17,645,837.00 CIE Cross Border Bus and Rail €2,613,686.66 Private Operators €10,760,755.68 NTA - LocalLink €1,500,000.00 Luas / Transdev €3,907,500.27 Cross Border Translink €1,397,851.13 All Ireland Free Travel Private Operators €73,932.57 Total €86,813,499.31

Payments to private operators in the scheme are determined by way of survey of their passenger numbers at a given point in time. Following the survey an average fee is agreed with the operator, discounted by 30% and is paid on a monthly basis.

Payment to CIE is by way of an annual block payment. This reflects service charges that have been negotiated over the years based on a range of factors including passenger numbers, fare levels, availability and frequency of services, peak time access, service improvements and enhancements.

Funding for the Free Travel Scheme is dealt with as part of the annual Estimates process. The funding provision for 2019 is €95m. A similar provision is in place for 2020.

Private Operators – Free Travel Scheme (by County)

County Operator

Antrim Northern Ireland Railway Company Ltd Ulsterbus

Cavan Leydon Coaches Sillan Tours Ltd. Wharton Travel Limited

Clare doolinferry.com Liscannor Ferry Co. Ltd (T/A Doolin2Aran Ferries - previously Cliffs and Aran Cruises) William H O'Brien (T/A Doolin Ferries)

Cork Barry's Coaches Ltd Bere Island Ferries Ltd Camp Roaringwater (John Moore) Carbery Island Ferries aka Sherkin Island Ferries David Long Coach Travel Harrington's Bus Service Joseph P Foley Maurice & Felix O Donoghue Maurice Coughlan Murphy’s Ferry Service Thar Tonn Teo T/A An Cailin Oir (S.O Driscoll)

Donegal Bus Feda Teoranta Cara na nOilean Teo Comharchumann Thorai Teo Doherty's Travel/Seamus Doherty Foyle Coaches (North West Busways Ltd) Hugh McGonagle of McGonagle Bus and Coach Hire John McGinley Joseph Mangan McGeehan Coaches/John & Michael Patrick Gallagher Brinaleck Patrick Gallagher Churchill Ltd Philip McGonagle of McGonagle Bus and Coach Ltd., Realt na Maidne Teo (Seamus Boyle) Sli Mara Thoraí Teo

Dublin Bus Eireann Citibus aka Dublin Coach Dualway Coaches Ltd Dublin Bus Eirebus Ltd Irish Rail Last Passive (T/A ) LUAS Light Rail services

Galway Aer Arann Burke Bros.Coaches Ltd Cummer Coaches EvoBus and Coach LTD., T/A GoBus Farragher International Travel Farrell Travel T/A City Direct Ltd Inishbofin Freight Inishbofin Island Discovery Ltd ComfortDelgro Island Ferries Teo Lally Coach Hire

Kerry David Culloty (T/A Tralee Peoples Bus Service)

Kilkenny Avalen Ltd. Bernard Kavanagh & Sons Ltd Buggy's Coaches Ltd/Denis Buggy JJ Kavanagh & Sons Ltd Kenneallys Bus Service Ltd M&A Coaches Michael Kilbride

Laois P.J. Martely (Martley's of Portlaoise) Slieve Bloom Coach Tours Ltd.

Leitrim Brian Doherty Westlink Coaches Ltd

Limerick Catherine Madigan Michael Donegan (Donegan's Mini Bus) Michael Kelly/Kelly Travel

Louth Halpenny Transport Ltd.

Mayo Clare Island Ferry & Clew Bay Cruises Ltd Damien Treacy (Treacy Coaches) McGrath's Coaches (Michael McGrath) Michael Corduff O'Malley Ferries (Clare Island) Ltd Sean Heneghan (Heneghan Bus Hire)

Monaghan Collins Coaches Matthews Coach Hire McConnon Travel Ltd.

Offaly K.Buggy Coaches Ltd. Kearns Transport

Sligo Joseph Doherty

Waterford Suirway Bus & Coach Service Ltd

Wexford Gorey Bus Links Ltd. IP Passenger Services/B.Crowley Matt Whelan Michael Gray, Ballyconnigar,Blackwater, Co. Wexford Nash Minibus & Coach Hire

Wicklow Eugene Finnegan (Finnegan Bray) John Doyle (St Kevins Bus Service)