Vol. 502 No. 3
590 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education and Science the criteria used to calculate the weekly and yearly transport grant to persons (details supplied) in County Meath; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that their daughter has to be transported 126 miles each week; the allowance made per mile; if he will review the allowance with a view to increasing it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7711/99]
I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers.
The child in question has been a residential pupil at a special school since 1992 and travels home at weekends. A weekend bus service was available to this pupil from 1992 to 1997, when the child's parents changed address. Since then, a rail service has been available to the pupil for weekend travel to and from the school. However, I understand that the child's family opted to make their own private transport arrangements rather than avail of these services.
In cases where private transport is provided, my Department offers a grant to the parents to help defray the cost involved. The amount of grant payable depends on the distance involved and the level of school attendance by the pupil. Such grants range from £100 per annum for a distance of half a mile to a maximum of £1,500 per annum for 25 miles and over. These rates are currently being reviewed in my Department.
The level of transport grant paid in any individual case may be appealed where it can be shown that the family involved is encountering hardship in supporting the private transport arrangement. In such cases, a transport grant of up to 50p per mile may be arranged. However, no such appeal has been lodged in the case in question.
I should also mention that a payment has recently been made to the family in question in respect of their private transport arrangements over the period 1992 to 1998.
