Vol. 503 No. 6
251 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide details for all subsidies provided by the Govern ment to families living on islands to provide post-primary education for their children. [10667/99]
Where there is no second level school on an island, island families are eligible for financial assistance under the remote area boarding grant scheme to facilitate a child's attendance at school on the mainland. The maximum grant payable under the scheme from the commencement of the 1998/99 school year is £1,850 per pupil per annum towards the cost of boarding or lodgings, irrespective of parental income.
My Department also provides a remote area transport grant for pupils who reside outside of the range of school transport services. This would apply to island children wishing to attend a post-primary school on the mainland as day pupils. The amount payable is based on the distance from a pupils home to the nearest suitable school.
