Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 June 2010
360 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway is not entitled to school transport; if she will give consideration to a cash grant to defray the costs of the 40 km return trip each day; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24581/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme, a pupil is eligible for transport if s/he resides 4.8 kilometres or more from her/his local post primary education centre. The scheme is not designed to facilitate parents who choose to send their children to a post-primary centre outside of the catchment area in which they reside. However, children who are fully eligible for transport to the post-primary centre in the catchment area in which they reside, may apply for transport on a concessionary basis to a post-primary centre outside of their own catchment area — otherwise known as catchment boundary transport. These children can only be facilitated if spare seats are available on the bus after all other eligible children travelling to their local post-primary centre have been catered for. Such children have to make their own way to the nearest pick up point within that catchment area.
The Transport Liaison Officer of Co. Galway has informed my Department that the pupil referred to in the details supplied is not attending a school in the catchment area in which he resides and therefore the payment of a grant does not arise. As previously advised, the pupil referred to in the details supplied may only apply for catchment boundary transport subject to the terms outlined above.
As the Deputy is aware, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, the review of the catchment boundaries formed part of the Value for Money Review of the School Transport Scheme. The report of the Value for Money Review of the School Transport Scheme is being finalised.
361 Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when her Department will introduce a mechanism to replace the fuel rebate to school transport operators which was discontinued two years ago; the timeframe for same; the reason this mechanism has not been introduced to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24590/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Fuel Duty Rebate Scheme (Provisions of Section 99 (1) Finance Act 1999) allowed for a rebate in respect of the excise duty paid on fuel used by private contractors on delivering school transport services. This scheme, which was processed by the Revenue Commissioners, ceased on 31st October 2008 in accordance with the EU Energy Tax Directive. Due to the very difficult fiscal conditions, it is not possible for my Department to approve any increase towards compensating private operators on contract to Bus Éireann for any loss of income arising from the termination of the fuel rebate scheme.
