Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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248. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is planned to equip Ukrainian refugees with leap cards for travel while here, or to instruct the Department of Social Protection to enable PPS cards for travel. [16433/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware, a whole of Government approach is being adopted regarding the Ukrainian crisis. In line with this approach, in my own Department, we have established a high-level group to monitor and respond as appropriate to the crisis and consider the role that the transport sector could play. The group is coordinating closely with other Government Departments, agencies and key transport stakeholders in response to the evolving situation.

In this context, it was agreed that free travel would be provided for newly arriving Ukrainian refugees on any Public Service Obligation (PSO) public transport service from port of entry to their end destination. This initiative is being applied across all PSO contracted services, including commercial bus services included in emergency PSO contracts, and those services that are part of the emergency commercial bus operator grant scheme. The situation is being monitored on an ongoing basis and will be reviewed at the end of April.

To avail, intending passengers should present the driver/relevant operator employee with the following:

- Ukrainian passport or other Ukrainian government issued ID and evidence of arrival in Ireland within the previous seven days, such as an airline booking email or boarding card stub, or

- confirmation of status from a coordinating group or charity involved in the Ukrainian crisis.

Consideration on whether longer term free public transport could be provided to Ukrainian refugees, either through a Leap card or the Department of Social Protection's Free Travel Scheme, are on-going. It should be noted that any changes to the Free Travel Scheme and all decisions regarding PPS cards are under the remit of the Minister for Social Protection.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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249. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider waiving certain driving requirements such as vehicle registration tax, insurance and Irish driver license and so on for those Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland by car. [16454/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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It is not my intention to waive the requirement that a person resident here must have an Irish or other EU driving licence and the necessary motor insurance to drive in Ireland. These driving requirements are set out in EU and national law and are a matter of road safety.

Driving licence requirements for displaced people entering the EU under the Temporary Protection Directive are a Europe-wide issue which may require a European solution. Ireland has already raised this matter at EU level with the Transport Directorate, DG Move, and other member states and is seeking an agreed EU approach to its resolution.