Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to read the following positive response into the record. I recognise that transport costs can be an additional burden upon homeless families residing in hotel accommodation in lieu of an alternative form of emergency accommodation. Accordingly, the Rebuilding Ireland action plan on housing and Homelessness outlined an initiative to provide access to free public transport for family travel and for school journeys. The initiative is being targeted at homeless families residing in hotel accommodation in the Dublin region. The Dublin Region Homeless Executive, DRHE, is overseeing the arrangements. Five separate 24-hour family Leap cards were made available to all homeless families residing in hotels in the Dublin region during 2016. These cards were to facilitate family days out and were valid for use on all Dublin transport systems. Over 500 families availed of this support.

With regard to free public transport for school journeys, I understand from the DRHE that it has finalised arrangements with the National Transport Authority to provide for Leap cards specifically tailored for this initiative. An order has been placed for their delivery and distribution will commence by the end of this month with Focus Ireland facilitating the distribution via its family homeless action teams. In the interim, a number of families have been accessing the Department of Social Protection's general scheme of exceptional needs payments relating to financial support for travel. The arrangements are now in place and the cards will be going out to families.

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