Free travel passes confiscated

A total of three free travel passes have been confiscated from passengers using buses in Co Cavan in the past year.

They’re among more than 110 such cases nationally, mostly where the passes concerned were been used by another person (73), not the named holder.

The Department of Social Protection says on average nine cases a month have been discovered.

Six cases involved the cardholder no longer being entitled to free travel, and 29 instances where the Public Services Card had been blocked.

Three cases were also reported where a paper pass was still being used, even though a newer Public Services Card with a free travel token had been issued.

Nearly 60% of all cases concerned people with addresses in Dublin.