Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the hardship caused to families as a result of the fact that the remote area grant is not paid until the end of the school year; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that this late payment may impact on the ability of strained families to pay for fuel to drive their children to school every day, if he will review this system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55295/13]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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An eligible child for whom no school transport service is available may, following an application for transport within the prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements.

The grant amount, which is distance related and based on school attendance records, ranges from some €200 to €930 per annum per family.

Given the volume of grants to be processed and paid it is not feasible to make more frequent payments of this grant.