Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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517. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the fact that families are suffering financial hardship as a result of the criteria laid down by her Department in respect of the distance from home to college to qualify for grant assistance which is now increased to 50 km; her further views on a reduction in the distance to qualify for grant. [38249/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The current qualifying distance for the higher non-adjacent rate of student grant is 45km, and not 50km as referred to by the Deputy. This distance takes into account a reasonable radius within which students may commute on a daily basis.

No change was made to the qualifying distance in the 2014 scheme.