AQW 30845/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 10/09/2025
Answered On Date: 18/09/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education whether he will commit to (i) reviewing the Home to School transport arrangements for children living in temporary accommodation, to ensure these children are able to access school without facing additional costs; and (ii) updating this as an action in the Interdepartmental Homelessness Action Plan.

Answer:

The Department of Education (DE) is responsible for the Home to School Transport Policy and the Education Authority (EA) for the operation and delivery of school transport. The EA assesses applications for transport assistance based on a pupil’s current home address, in line with the DE policy, and when families move house or school during the school year they must submit a new application for transport.

The DE transport policy acknowledges that the application of the criteria in the general transport policy may not always be appropriate and therefore it enables the EA to consider cases where transport may need to be provided in exceptional circumstances, which can include where a family is forced to relocate to a temporary address at short notice for reasons beyond their control.

Each family's circumstances are different and I am content that the EA’s exceptional circumstances process is an appropriate way in which it can consider each case on an individual basis and where needed, provide transport assistance for pupils experiencing homelessness and those living in temporary accommodation. I will, however, consider if further actions relating to the support provided for children and young people to enable them to access education in these difficult circumstances should be included in the Interdepartmental Homelessness Action Plan.