People who are certified as medically unfit to drive for a year or more will now be able to apply for a free travel pass under the recently extended scheme.
Over 30,000 people are estimated to be eligible for the scheme, which is largely used by older people.
Epilepsy Ireland, which has long campaigned for the scheme to be extended, estimates that around 5,000 people with the condition will now be eligible.
Advocacy Manager Paddy McGeoghegan said today “marks the end of what’s been a longstanding campaign by Epilepsy Ireland”.
He said the group has received heartening messages from people with epilepsy who have received their approval in recent days.
Acknowledging the work done by Epilepsy Ireland, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said the new policy would benefit not just those with epilepsy “but any person who is medically unfit to drive”.
The first user of the Free Travel Pass, Síomha Connolly, said being medically barred from driving is “difficult to comprehend unless you are in that position”.
“It can impact on all aspects of life as you rely heavily on public transport and the kindness of friends and family to get around,” she said.
“I am so glad that the difficulties this can cause has been recognised through the extension of the scheme.”
The scheme is currently available to everyone who is 66 and over and to some who are in receipt of qualifying payments and legally living permanently in the State.
Over a million people have direct eligibility for the pass, which can be applied for at Gov.ie/FreeTravel.
