Written answers
Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Department of Education and Skills
School Admissions
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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76. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine the appeal of a child (details supplied) who has been refused a remote access boarding grant to study at an all-Irish secondary school on the basis that the child was refused a place at the local Gaelscoil because of the lack of sufficient Irish of the student, despite the fact that school is oversubscribed; and if she would agree that the aim of the student and to remedy this deficiency by accessing a secondary school education through Irish is precisely what the remote access boarding grant scheme was designed for. [31522/23]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The purpose of the Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme is to give students who are disadvantaged because of their remoteness from schools an opportunity to attend school on the same basis as students not so disadvantaged.
The terms of this scheme are set out in Circular 16/2016 which is published on my Department’s website at: gov.ie - Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme ()
As per the circular above, the pupil “must be unable to obtain a place in a suitable second-level school within 25 km of his/her normal place of residence & should provide written confirmation of same”.
The application referred to by the Deputy has not been refused by my Department. However, it has not been progressed pending receipt of written confirmation regarding the refusal of a place in the local Gaelscoil as per the terms of the scheme.
The applicant was recently contacted by my Department with regard to the outstanding documentation. Upon receipt of this, my Department will process the application as soon as possible.
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