A total of 22,953 people in Donegal will be able to benefit from the extension to the Free Travel Scheme for the over-70s.

As of this week, those over 70 with a valid free travel Public Services Card can have another person, aged 16 or older, travel with them for free on all public and certain private transport services operated under the Free Travel Scheme. This includes bus, rail, Local Link and the Luas, along with some services operated by private bus and ferry transport operators.

Welcoming the announcement, Donegal Minister of State, Charlie McConalogue said: “This is an excellent initiative and those in Donegal who qualify have been written to by the Department of Transport recently to inform them of their entitlement.

“This new measure announced by the Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, and the Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, underlines the government’s commitment to providing a transport system that is accessible to all. This will give people over 70 the opportunity to live full and independent lives in their communities,” the Minister for Sport and Postal Policy added.

The Free Travel Scheme is currently available to everyone aged 66 or over, and to certain people who are under 66 in receipt of qualifying payments, or who meet the medical conditions for Blind Pension, and are legally living permanently in the State.

If you qualify for Free Travel and you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, your partner may currently travel with you for free if you meet certain criteria.

If you are under 70 and cannot travel alone for medical reasons, you may apply for Free Travel for a companion. This allows a person aged 16 or over to travel with you for free.

This new measure allows those over 70 with a valid free travel companion Public Services Card to have another person, aged 16 or older, travel with them for free.

The Free Travel Scheme allows for free travel on public transport provided by the State. This includes bus, rail, Local Link and the Luas. 

Free travel is also available on some services operated by private bus and ferry transport operators. There are currently over 1.1 million people eligible for a free travel pass. This figure increases to over 1.9 million when companion and spousal passes are included.

For more information on the Free Travel Scheme visit www.Gov.ie/FreeTravel