asked the Minister for Education the requirements for receiving the grant for school children in order to defray the cost of their books.
Written Answers. - School Books Grant.
727.
The scheme of assistance towards the cost of school books is administered by school principals, who have discretion in the disbursement of the grants in relation to the selection of pupils to be assisted. The guidelines issued by the Department suggest that grants should be given to children from homes where there is genuine hardship because of unemployment, the prolonged illness of a parent, a large family with inadequate means, a parent being widowed or unmarried, or where there are other circumstances which would connote a similar degree of domestic financial hardship. If the Deputy has any specific cases in mind at any time, and is experiencing undue difficulty in their regard, I will be happy to interest myself in such cases, if the Deputy wishes.