The purpose of the Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme is to give students who are disadvantaged because of their remoteness from schools, an opportunity to attend school on the same basis as students not so disadvantaged.
The terms of this scheme are set out in Circular 16/2016 which is published on my Department’s website at www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0016_2016.pdf.
As set out in this circular, these grants are payable in respect of pupils whose normal place of residence is outside the range of public transport services to a school providing suitable free second-level education. Therefore, the advice of Bus Éireann, who operate the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department, is required in order to determine eligibility for the scheme.