Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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270. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the actions being taken by his Department, as the lead Department, in the provision of transport for the children of families that are housed in emergency accommodation; when these arrangements will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31790/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Transport costs can be an additional burden upon families residing in hotel accommodation on an emergency basis. As provided for in Rebuilding Ireland: An Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, arrangements are being put in place to provide access to free public transport for family travel and for school journeys for those homeless families in the Dublin Region that are residing in hotel accommodation. Accordingly, each family will be given five 24-hour family LEAP cards, which will be valid for use on all Dublin transport systems, allowing for family days out at weekends or during holiday periods. Furthermore, arrangements are also being put in place to provide for free public transport, where required, for school children travelling between hotel emergency accommodation and school.

The Dublin Region Homeless Executive is implementing these initiatives. It is currently overseeing the distribution of the initial tranche of family LEAP cards though their Family Homeless Action Teams, who will also identify the families' needs in relation to school journey cards and arrange for their distribution as early as possible following the distribution of the family cards.