Vol. 289 No. 9
asked the Minister for Education if persons in receipt of the dole have been denied full boarding school grants on the grounds that means are in excess of Department income limits for such grants; and, if so, if he will adjust the income limits upwards to eliminate such anomalies.
37.
asked the Minister for Education if he will increase the qualifying income limits for boarding school grants; and if he will increase these grants.
38.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that a private company in Galway city has agreed to pay boarding school grants in respect of certain pupils at Coláiste Enda, Gaillimh, following the default in payments by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 37 and 38 together. The school boarding grant comprises three constituent grants:
(a) a grant towards the tuition element of the boarding school fee;
(b) a grant in aid of maintenance;
(c) an additional allowance in aid of maintenance in the case of a necessitous child.
No income limit applies in regard to (a) and (b).
As I announced in reply to a parliamentary question on 6th April, with effect from the commencement of the current school year, the regulations require that for receipt of the additional allowance at (c), parental income must not exceed £1,500 per annum. This represents an increase of £200 on the previous maximum income figure of £1,300. In addition, the figure of £1,500 may be augmented by £50 in respect of each dependent child after the fourth.
As well as increasing the means limits, I have also, from the commencement of the current school year, raised the boarding school fee limit in respect of this scheme to £315 p.a., an increase of 70 per cent on the previous figure of £185 p.a. In regard to the private initiative in Galway mentioned by the Deputy I can only say that such initiatives are at all times very welcome.
