Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018
311. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills the level of the remote area grant; the occasion on which it was last increased; his plans to increase it for the 2018/2019 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24341/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently over 116,000 children, including almost 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.
In general, children are eligible for school transport if they meet the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school.
Children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no transport service is available may, following an application for transport within the prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements. The grant is calculated on the distance that children reside from their school and the number of days attended. The rate of grant varies from about €200 to €900 per annum and has not changed in recent years.
This grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2 kilometres or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point.
This grant is payable annually at a fixed daily rate, to each eligible family, regardless of the number of children from the same family, travelling to a particular school.
The Remote Area Grant is not intended to cover the actual cost of providing transport and in this regard, there are no plans to review the current rates applicable.
