Information
Everyone aged 66 and over living permanently in Ireland, is entitled to the free travel scheme. Certain people under that age are also entitled. In some cases, a free companion pass may be available to allow a person to accompany the free travel pass holder. If you qualify for free travel, you will be issued with a pass that you must carry with you when using public transport. Free travel passes are non-transferrable and can only be used by the named person.
Free travel is available on all State public transport (bus, rail and Dublin's LUAS service). Free travel is also available on a limited number of services that are operated by private bus transport companies. Private bus transport operators that have opted in to the Free Travel scheme, accept free travel passes. To check whether your private bus operator accepts free travel passes, you should contact the Department of Social and Family Affairs - see 'Where to apply' below.
Spouses and companions
If you have a free travel pass and you are married or cohabiting (that is, living with a man or woman as husband and wife), you are entitled to a Free Travel Pass which allows your partner to accompany you free of charge when travelling. (This does not apply to person's under age 66 who are in receipt of Carer's Allowance or who are nominated carers for people getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relatives Allowance from the Department of Social and Family Affairs).
In addition, some people who are unable to use the pass because they are unable to travel alone may get a Companion Free Travel Pass. This allows the holder to be accompanied by any person over 16 years of age, free of charge.
Senior SmartPass for travelling in Northern Ireland
The All Ireland Free Travel Scheme allows a Free Travel passholder (those aged 66 and older) to travel free of charge on all bus and rail services within Northern Ireland using a Smartpass card. Similarly, Northern Ireland Senior Smartpass holders are entitled to travel for free on services in Ireland using their existing Senior Smartpass. If your Free Travel Pass allows you to be accompanied by a spouse/partner or companion they may continue to travel with you for free on cross-border journeys but they cannot accompany you for free on public transport within Northern Ireland.
Free Travel Pass holders wishing to avail of the All Ireland Free Travel scheme within Northern Ireland must first obtain a Senior SmartPass card. To get a Senior SmartPass card you must fill in application form (FTNI1). (It is not possible to get this form online, to get a form you must contact your Social Welfare Local Office).
The application form must be filled in with black ink only and returned in person (not posted) to your local social welfare office. You must bring the following items with your application form to your local social welfare office:
- Your current Free Travel Pass and
- Evidence of your address, (for example, a gas, electricity, phone bill or bank statement) and
- Evidence of your identity, (for example, your drivers licence, passport or another form of photo identification) and
- A recent passport standard colour photograph.
It may take up to six weeks to process your application. There is further information on the extension of the Free Travel Scheme.
You should continue to use your current Free Travel Pass for travel in this State.
Rules
You may be entitled to free travel if you are permnamently living in the State and:
- You are aged 66 or over
- You are getting Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Carer's Allowance or an Invalidity Pension from the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
- You are in residential care approved by the Health Service Executive and getting Disability Allowance
- You have been getting Incapacity Supplement or Workmen's Compensation with Disablement Pension for at least 12 months
- You are blind or visually impaired and meet the medical conditions for Blind Pension
- You are a specified carer for a person getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relatives Allowance from the Department
- You are getting a social security invalidity payment, or similar payment, from another EU member state or from a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement for at least 12 months
- You are a widow or widower aged 60 or over whose late spouse held a free travel pass and who is getting one of the following payments: State Pension (Transition), Widow's/Widower's (Contributory) Pension, Widow's/Widower's (Non-Contributory) Pension, One-Parent Family Payment, Widow's/Widower's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme or a similar social security pension/benefit from an EU member state or a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, or an ordinary Garda widow's pension.
Where free travel can be used
Free travel is available on Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Dart and Luas Services and on certain private bus and ferry services. You may also travel free of charge on certain cross-border services between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
If you are permanently living on any of the Aran Islands, you may get up to 12 single (or 6 return) air trips each year between the islands and the mainland. People who live permanently on Tory Island (Co. Donegal) are entitled to a 8 (or 4 return) free journeys on the seasonal helicopter service operating between the island and the mainland.
There are no restrictions on the times at which you can use your Free Travel Pass. Therefore, there is no need for unrestricted passes, permitting free travel at peak times.
If you lose your Free Travel Pass
If you lose your Free Travel Pass or if it is stolen, you should fill in form FT27 (pdf) for a replacement Free Travel Pass. Part of this form must be filled in by a Garda at your local Garda Station.
How to apply
If you are aged 66 or over and are getting a social welfare pension, the free travel pass will issue automatically. If you are under age 66, you will get a Free Travel pass automatically when you are awarded an Invalidity Pension, a Blind Pension, Disability Allowance or Carer’s Allowance. In all other circumstances, you must apply for free travel by completing a Free Travel application form FT1 (pdf).
You can also obtain this form and other additional information from the Department of Social and Family Affairs - see 'Where to apply' below. The form is also available at your local post office.
If you are married and either of you apply for a Free Travel Pass or are issued one automatically, the appropriate type of pass (to allow your spouse to accompany you free of charge) will be issued. If you are cohabiting (this means, living together as husband and wife), you must apply for this type of pass by completing PART 2 of the above application form. If you already have a Free Travel Pass (single status), you should return it with the application form.
People living in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Galway or Waterford must exchange the free travel pass for a photo pass at the CIE office in the city - see 'Where to apply' below.
Where to apply
Free Travel Section
Line 1:
Freepost Line 2:
Social Welfare Services Line 3:
College Road County:
Sligo Country:
IRELAND Tel:
(071) 915 7100 Locall:
1890 500 000 Homepage:
http://www.welfare.ie/ Wheelchair Access:
Dublin Bus
Line 1:
59 Upper O'Connell Street County:
Dublin 1 Country:
IRELAND Tel:
(01) 872 0000 Bus Eireann - Cork
Dept.:
Travel Centre Line 1:
Bus Station Line 2:
Parnell Place County:
Cork Country:
IRELAND Tel:
(021) 450 8188 Bus Eireann - Limerick
Dept.:
Travel Centre Line 1:
Colbert Station County:
Limerick Country:
IRELAND Tel:
(061) 31 3333 Bus Eireann - Waterford
Dept.:
Travel Centre Line 1:
Bus Station Line 2:
The Quay County:
Waterford Country:
IRELAND Tel:
(051) 87 9000 Bus Eireann - Galway
Dept.:
Travel Centre Line 1:
Ceannt Station County:
Galway Country:
IRELAND Tel:
(091) 56 2000