23. Travel and Subsistence

Last updated: Tue, Sep 20th, 2016 7:12:30 pm

23.1          The Board may pay travel and subsistence allowances from the School Fund and other activities as appropriate, in accordance with regulations and at rates laid down from time to time by the Department of Education & Skills for travel by Board members, selection committee members and employees of the Board engaged on Board/school business and to members of ACCS and NAPD in respect of attendance at annual conferences and performance of duties on behalf of NAPD and ACCS Executives. Claims may be allowed only to the extent that they can be met within the approved total non-pay allocation and the Department reserves the right to place a cash limit on such allowances for any financial year.

23.2          It is the duty of Principals and Boards of Management to ensure that expenditure on travel and subsistence is strictly appraised and monitored and only essential travel is undertaken and that every effort is made to keep expenditure to a minimum. The Board is obliged to approve all instances which will result in claims for travel and subsistence, and is obliged to verify the validity of each and every claim. Claims should be matched by appropriately vouched and verified claims forms. An appropriate Travel and Subsistence Claim Form is included at Appendix 9.

23.3          The Principal may be delegated the responsibility to vouch for claims submitted by other employees.  In cases where the Principal is claiming travel and subsistence, these claims must be verified by the Chairperson of the Board of Management or, in the absence of the chairperson, a nominee of the Board.

23.4          The Department pays travel expenses in respect of teachers attending approved in-service training courses organised by the Department.

23.5          Relevant conditions and procedures are set out in Department circular CC2/99, as outlined at Appendix 7 to the Manual.

23.6          Board members and employees of the Board engaged on Board/school business are responsible for their own insurance while using their own private vehicle for work purposes. A Declaration Form as outlined in Appendix 8 must be completed by any employee/Board of Management member using their private vehicle for school business purposes. (see Circular 0017/2016)

23.7     For risk management controls which should be considered when using private vehicles for work purposes, please refer to “State Indemnity Guidance Document:05: Use of private vehicles for work” published by the State Claims Agency