Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
581. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the location from which a prospective applicant can get accurate information on the mileage rates available for the special transport grant. [34615/18]
View answer582. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the mileage rates available for the special transport grant; the way in which they compare to revenue mileage rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34616/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 581 and 582 together.
School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently over 116,000 children, including over 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.
A Special Transport Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements may be provided, at the discretion of the Department, to families whose children are eligible for school transport 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 grant was introduced from the commencement of the 2011/12 school year and reflected the Motor Travel Rates applicable under Department of Finance Circular 07/2009 which were effective from 5th March 2009. The rate used was the rate applicable to cars with an engine capacity up to 1200cc i.e. 39.12 cent for the first 6,437 kilometres and 21.22 cent per kilometre thereafter.
Grants are calculated based on the mileage for four trips daily multiplied by the number of days a child attends school and this amount is considered to be a reasonable return for parents who are transporting their children to and from school.
The terms of the School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
