1993. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of extending the free travel scheme to all domiciliary care recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56683/26]

The Programme for Government 2025 has committed to examining extending the Free Travel scheme to include children benefitting from the Domiciliary Care Allowance.

Domiciliary Care Allowance is a non means tested payment payable at €360 a month per child.  In addition, all recipients of Domiciliary Care Allowance qualify for the Carer's Support Grant in June of each year.  The current rate is €2,000 per year.

Based on 73,583 children benefitting from the Domiciliary Care Allowance, it is estimated that extending the Free Travel scheme to include those children, would cost in the region of €6.42 million in a full year.

The modelling of the cost is complex and needs to take account of multiple factors, including all children under nine already have free travel on public transport and children under 16 benefit from significantly reduced rates.  It is also important to remember that it is the parent or guardian who receives Domiciliary Care Allowance - it is not paid directly to the child.

The Programme for Government commitment to make public transport more affordable and accessible for families, has seen the extension of free travel on all Transport for Ireland services to all children between 5 to 8 years of age.

Any expansion of the Free Travel Scheme will have to be considered in the context of the budgetary resources available.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.