Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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27. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the issue of the calculation via the shortest distance which involves using rural roads in poor repair in the matter of the calculation of adjacent and non-adjacent third level grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14427/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Maintenance grants under the Student Grant Scheme are awarded either at the non-adjacent rate or the adjacent rate, depending on the distance between the applicant’s normal residence and the college attended. To qualify for the higher non-adjacent rate, a student has to be living more than 45kms from college.

The current qualifying distance of 45km for the higher non-adjacent rate of student grant takes into account a reasonable radius within which students may commute on a daily basis.

The measurement of the distances relating to the award of adjacent or non-adjacent rates of student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. The distance measurement for student grant rates is governed by Article 27(3)(a) and (b) of the Student Grant Scheme 2017. This provides that the relevant distance will be measured in line with agreed guidelines.

The guidelines require that the shortest most direct route between the applicant's normal residence and the institution being attended should apply. In determining the shortest most direct route, the relevant awarding authority shall establish:

- the method for measuring a route; and

- the factors to be taken into account in establishing and measuring a route.