asked the Minister for Education if he will take into account the number of children being educated in a family at any given time when he determines the maximum income for the complete grant to children outside the free transport scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport Service.
20.
The income limits in relation to special assistance to facilitate post-primary school attendance by pupils from remote areas have been raised from £1,300 to £1,500 and the latter figure may now be augmented by £50 in respect of each dependent child after the fourth. This is the maximum consideration possible in these cases in present circumstances.
Would the Minister agree that the income limits are unrealistic and have not been adjusted to allow for the effects of inflation on incomes and on the cost of living? Would the Minister agree that, as well as excluding the children of employed labourers, the burden falls most heavily on the parents who have a number of children attending post-primary schools and are outside the free transport scheme?
I have increased the limits and that is as much as I can do now. I should like to point out that we have made a 70 per cent increase in the boarding grants. We are doing fairly well in that now.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.