David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 474: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the rate of payment under the primary school transport grant scheme; when this was last increased; her plans to increase the rate in the future; the amount expended under the primary school transport scheme in the last academic year; the expected expenditure for the current academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30027/07]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Transport grants may be paid by my Department to eligible pupils, including special needs pupils. Grants include the remote area grant and assistance to parents of children with special needs where it may not always be possible to facilitate pupils with suitable transport. The expenditure on grants towards the cost of transport at primary level was approximately €3 million in 2006.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to review the school transport scheme; my Department is currently considering how best to progress this task. The rates payable under the various schemes can be examined in the context of this review.

I have arranged for details of the relevant transport grants to be forwarded to the Deputy.