The Social Protection Minister has moved to allay concerns that she may be forced to take free-travel from older people and carers.

Joan Burton says a review of the scheme is underway.

It is capped at €77 million a year.

This means the Minister will either have to remove it from certain people, restrict new entrants, or re-negotiate the cost with providers.

The Minister said yesterday that she places a very high value on free travel.

On Wednesday it emerged that a government working group is reviewing the scheme.

It benefits more than 700,000 older people, carers and people with disabilities.

Minister Burton says her Department has been asked by the Department of Transport to review free travel.

It comes after issues were raised by Irish transport operators about how the scheme works and payment for it.

Speaking in Dublin this morning Minister Burton says she hopes to negotiate down the price of this.

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