Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 July 2021
193. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of children that receive a school transport remote area grant; the value of grants awarded in the last full school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38133/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/21 school year more than 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
An eligible child 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
An application for transport must be submitted for each subsequent child requiring transport, even in cases where the family is already in receipt of the Remote Area Grant.
The grant, which is payable annually at the end of the school year, is generally based on the distance a family resides from their school of eligibility.
The maximum daily allowance payable under the Remote Area Grant is €5.10 per day, regardless of the number of children from the same family, travelling to particular schools. For families with more than one eligible child the grant amount will be calculated by reference to the child with the highest attendance record.
The total value of the Remote Area Grant for the 2019/20 school year amounted to just under €700,000 being paid to approximately 1,600 families.
