Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

One of the welcome announcements in the action plan on housing and homelessness was that transportation would be provided for families and children who are currently in hotels or other emergency accommodation. I have put down a number of parliamentary questions to the three possible Ministers involved in this issue. The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, has come back to me to say that work is ongoing in relation to family leap cards. I have raised in committee with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Katherine Zappone, my concern that school journey cards are to be distributed after the leap cards. I understood they were to be ready for the end of the month so that children would have the cards when they go back after the half-term holiday. In the reply to one of my parliamentary questions, it states that distribution will take place as early as possible following the distribution of family leap cards. I am concerned at this delay and wonder if either the Tánaiste or Deputy Coveney can assure me that the cards will be available for these families so that they can afford to send their children back to the schools they have been attending until now.

See this speech in context