Michael Healy-Rae
Question:282. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if the boarding grant for students will be increased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18807/24]
View answerTuesday, 30 April 2024
Questions (282)
Written answers
The purpose of the Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme is to give students who are disadvantaged because of their remoteness from schools an opportunity to attend school on the same basis as students not so disadvantaged.
The terms of this scheme are set out in Circular 16/2016 which is published on my Department’s website at: gov.ie - www.gov.ie/en/circular/14bf3da700a54567a821513272945bd1/.
Under the terms of the scheme, a second-level school is a school which is recognised by the Department for the purpose of providing the prescribed certificate courses, which enters its students for the State examinations and is subject to inspection by the Department.
As per the circular above, the pupil “must be resident 4.8 km or more from a second-level school where suitable free second-level education is available and more than 3.2 km from a pick-up point on a transport service to such a school; and must be unable to obtain a place in a suitable second-level school within 25 km of his/her normal place of residence & should provide written confirmation of same”.
Pupils resident on off shore islands that do not have a school providing suitable free second level education may also qualify for assistance under the scheme.
For pupils requiring an Irish medium education the outlined criteria will be applied to the nearest second level school providing instruction through Irish.
The curriculum choices provided by a school (including the provision or otherwise of transition year) within 25 km of the applicant’s normal place of residence will not be a factor in the determination of eligibility for the award of a grant.
The maximum grant payable under the scheme may not exceed € 4,947 per pupil per annum. The grant is payable after each school term to the school or parent/guardian, whichever is appropriate, subject to verification by the school that the pupil has been in full-time attendance for the period concerned and a statement of the annual maintenance charge for the boarding or lodging fees, whichever is applicable, is provided.
Application for children starting in September of a school year should be sent in on or before the 30th April of that year as there is no guarantee that applications received after this time will be processed by the September.