Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1162: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in having a remote area boarding grant sanctioned in respect of a pupil (details supplied) in County Cork; and if the continuation of payment of this grant for the duration of the child's time in this specific school will be ensured. [25056/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The purpose of the remote area boarding grants scheme is to give pupils who are educationally disadvantaged because of their remoteness from schools an opportunity to attend school on the same basis as other pupils not so disadvantaged. The grant is paid in respect of pupils who are outside the range of school transport services from the nearest school providing suitable free second level education. In assessing applications my Department refers to Bus Éireann, which advises on eligibility.

On the application referred to by the Deputy, the position is that in view of the number of students from the area concerned expressing an interest in attending the school referred to by the Deputy, the possibility of providing a dedicated transport service from that area to the school concerned is under consideration.

In light of this position, my Department has approved a grant in respect of the pupil concerned for the school year 2005-06, pending a decision on the dedicated transport service. This position will be reviewed at the end of the 2005-06 school year.