To ask the Minister of Education to detail the additional cost to his Department to bus pupils from Portaferry to schools in Ballynahinch and Downpatrick during the five weeks when the Strangford ferry service is suspended.

The Education Authority (EA) is responsible for the operation and delivery of home to school transport. It has advised me that the Department of Infrastructure has agreed that Translink will provide any additional bus transport needed for the five-week period while the Strangford Ferry service is suspended. There is no additional transport assistance required from the EA Transport Service and therefore no additional cost for bus transport will be incurred by my Department.