AQW 34330/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 24/10/2025
Answered On Date: 06/11/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of pupils, living in households with homelessness status, who have (i) appealed a decision of the Education Authority to refuse to fund school transport, required as a result of being moved into temporary accommodation outside of their school catchment area; (ii) had their appeal rejected, in each of the last three years.

Answer:

The Education Authority has advised me that it does not record the household status of all pupils applying for home to school transport assistance.

Eligibility for transport is based on two main criteria, distance and suitable school. If a family moves house, including into temporary accommodation, they need to make a new application for transport assistance. They may be eligible for transport assistance if their current address is beyond statutory walking distance from their school and they provide evidence that they are unable to secure a place in any school in the same category within that distance. If their application for transport has been refused, they are able to appeal that decision under the EA's exceptional circumstances policy and can reference accommodation issues such as enforced relocation and concern for their child’s welfare in the evidence provided to the EA. The EA’s exceptional circumstances panel will consider the evidence provided in each case on its individual merits and determine if transport assistance should be provided.