Vol. 454 No. 1
35 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to increase the parental income limit from £9,100 per annum to the level of the average industrial wage in respect of grant-aid for children living on offshore islands who attend second level on the mainland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10224/95]
Provision exists for the payment of grants in respect of pupils whose homes are outside the range of transport services to a second-level school providing suitable post-primary education. To qualify for this grant, an applicant must be resident at least three miles from a centre where suitable free post-primary education is available, or from a pick-up point on a bus route to such a centre, and be a recognised pupil in a boarding school in which the boarding or lodgings fee charged to parents does not exceed £1,700 per pupil per annum.
All eligible students receive a grant of eight-fifteenths (8/15) of the total boarding fee charged to parents. An additional allowance of seven-fifteenths (7/15) of the boarding fee is payable, which brings the boarding grant to 100 per cent in the case of needy applicants whose sole income consists of social welfare assistance or in the case of other applicants whose income does not exceed £9,100 per annum, with a further £299 for each dependent child after the first child.
I am satisfied that special provision should exist for needy pupils and that the current income limit of £9,100 per year should be kept under review.
