Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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492. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the full-year cost of the free travel scheme, and the projected expenditure on the scheme out to 2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42616/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over one million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2024 is €103.5 million.

In 2023, the cost of the Free Travel Scheme was €92.577 million.

As part of Budget 2025, I announced that all those aged over 70 will be entitled to a Free Travel Companion pass from September 2025. An additional €7 million has been allocated to the scheme in 2025 to finance this measure. The estimate cost of the Free Travel scheme in 2025 is €110.5 million.

It is not possible to provide an accurate projection of the cost of the Free Travel Scheme beyond 2025, as the cost is determined by a number of factors including pass usage and overall fare costs. Both may be subject to change in the period outlined by the Deputy.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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493. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the full-year cost of providing two oral dentist examinations as opposed to one, in one calendar year, under the treatment benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42617/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical, aural and hair replacement products and services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependent spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions.

The Department pays a fee to dentists providing an oral examination once per calendar year for each qualified customer. A payment of €40 is provided for an oral examination to dentists registered on the Department’s panel.

In 2023, €59.8 million was paid in respect of 1.6 million treatments, of which over 800,000 were oral examinations, eligible under the Dental Benefit Treatment Benefit Scheme.

If the policy was changed to allow two oral dental examinations in one calendar year, based on the 2023 data, it would cost an additional €32 million. This is based on every person who availed of an oral examination in 2023,availing of a further exam in the year. A number of other factors would have to be considered before changes to the scheme could be contemplated.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.