Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the case that has been made by the Good Shepherd service, which contacted me directly about this as well. I can see why someone who is trying to solve a particular problem would jump to the free travel pass from the Department of Social Protection. We looked into it. The school transport scheme is the obvious option and the question is how to bridge the gap between people in those situations and the school transport scheme.

My understanding is that there was some engagement with Tusla which, on occasion, has knowledge of and connection with people in emergency accommodation, and that it provided a sum of money to facilitate the purchase of Leap cards for people connected with that charity. That was obviously a temporary measure. There is perhaps scope in the Department of Education to develop a kind of protocol for people who, at a minimum, are in touch with Tusla but perhaps are in touch with homeless services. I always seek to bridge the gap where it is smallest, and I think that is where the smallest gap is.

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