Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their questions. It is very important that we give every support possible to families that are experiencing the trauma of being in emergency accommodation. The Leap card is one way of ensuring that children get to school every day and it is an important part of the wraparound services we have for families in hotels and in family hubs. I am informed by the Minister for Finance that the National Treasury Management Agency made an announcement yesterday that children would be able to travel for free on their Leap cards during the summer months. The inter-agency group on homelessness, which includes representatives from the various Departments responsible – including my Department and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs – discussed what other supports need to be put in place. We now have some breathing space to take a proper look at the issue and to see if we can expand the use of Leap cards outside of the school term.

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