Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2011
281 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria that is to be used in calculating the distance from a students residence and the third level institution that they are attending for the purposes of determining if they may avail of the non-adjacent maintenance grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18780/11]
View answer282 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a grant for a student residing in Fallcarragh, County Donegal and attending Letterkenny Institute of Technology will be calculated on the basis of travelling via the N56 or via the R251, for the purposes of determining if they may avail of the non-adjacent maintenance grant. [18781/11]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 281 and 282 together.
The measurement of the distances in question is a matter for grant awarding bodies. It is not possible, therefore, for me to say what the distance calculation for an individual student will or should be. However, the shortest most direct route to college is measured. I understand that a range of mechanisms can be used, for example, online mapping such as AA route planner and Google maps. If there is a dispute it may be necessary to carry out a physical measurement.
