Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the issue of remote areas boarding grant; the persons who have availed of this grant; and the total amount paid under this grant. [34599/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The purpose of the Remote Area Boarding Grant 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. Grants are paid for pupils whose normal place of residence is outside the range of public transport services to a school providing suitable free second-level education. To qualify for a boarding grant, an applicant must be:

normally resident in the State; and

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

unable to obtain a place in a suitable second-level school within 25 km of his/her normal place of residence.

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 Remote Area Boarding Grant is paid to the parents of eligible students, except where the school attended is a boarding school, in which case the grant is paid to the school. The total funding provided in the 2010/11 school year was €836,877.