Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2013
187. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional provision will be made for wear and tear of a vehicle under the school transport scheme in respect of parents who have to travel in excess of 250 km per day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44385/13]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs a Special Transport Grant (STG) towards the cost of private transport arrangements may be provided at the discretion of the Department in situations where:- Bus Éireann is not in a position to provide a transport service;- a child's age, behavioural difficulties or medical needs are such as to make the provision of a transport service impracticable;- an escort is considered necessary and the provision of such support is not feasible;- the cost of establishing/maintaining a service is considered prohibitive. The rate of grant payable is based on Civil Service motor travel rates and is currently 39.12 cent per kilometre for the first 6,437 kilometres and 21.22 cent per kilometre on all mileage thereafter. The grant for a 250 kilometre journey works out at €97.80 per day reducing to €53.05 per day after the first 6,437 kilometres. It is considered that this level of grant represents a reasonable contribution to parents who are transporting their children to and from school.
