Status of free public transport to children in emergency accommodation

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the status of free public transport to children in emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

Supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness is a priority for this Government. Rebuilding Ireland, the Government's Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness includes a range of measures  relating to the provision of emergency accommodation and the range of supports to be provided to households experiencing homelessness.

Under Rebuilding Ireland, my Department is funding an initiative to provide homeless families residing in temporary emergency accommodation in the Dublin Region with access to free public transport for essential school journeys.  The Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) oversees the implementation of this initiative and, working in partnership with the National Transport Authority, has put arrangements in place for the provision of Leap cards to the families concerned.  These Leap cards provide for free public transport for school-going children and accompanying adults, where necessary.