Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application (details supplied) for the remote area grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11292/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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To be eligible for school transport children must reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and be attending their nearest national school, as determined by my Department, having regard to ethos and language. Eligible children for whom no transport service is available may, following their application for transport, receive a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. Bus Éireann which operates the school transport schemes, on behalf of my Department, has advised that they have no record of receiving an application for school transport from the person in question. The position regarding transport or a grant can be assessed on receipt of a completed application form.

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the remote area grant scheme is applicable to transition year students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11293/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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To be eligible for post-primary school transport pupils, including transition year pupils, must reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from, and be attending, their appropriate post-primary education centre/school, as determined by my Department. Eligible pupils for whom no transport service is available may, following their application for transport, receive a Remote Area Grant (RAG) towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. In general, the RAG is payable for the duration of a pupil's post-primary education unless circumstances change e.g. a service may be established under the terms of the scheme. Parents/guardians of eligible pupils should, in the first instance, liaise with their local Bus Éireann office regarding the availability of school transport services.