Christy O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of boarding schools here in which Catholic pupils are entitled to attend and be paid the remote area grant subject to being eligible under the conditions of this grant; the names of these schools; their locations and roll numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8217/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Remote Area Grant scheme, provision exists for the payment of grants in respect of pupils whose normal place of residence is outside the range of public transport services to a school providing suitable free second-level education. This scheme of grants was introduced in conjunction with the free post-primary education scheme in the 1967/68 school year.

The purpose of the 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. 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.

To qualify for a boarding grant, an applicant: – must be normally resident in the State; and must be resident at least 4.8 km 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; and must be a pupil in a second-level school providing free second-level education for day pupils. 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.

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 from the commencement of the 2008/09 school year may not exceed €4,947 per pupil per annum. The grant is payable quarterly in arrears to the 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 the provision of a statement of the annual maintenance charge. A list of boarding schools is available on my Department's website.