asked the Minister for Education if he will arrange for the payment of a boarding school grant to a person (name supplied) who is a pupil at Mercy Convent Secondary School, Clifden, County Galway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Boarding School Grant.
34.
Mr. R. Burke
This pupil resides within easy range of the daily school transport services to Clifden post-primary centre. Therefore she is not eligible for a boarding school grant.
I had hoped for a more humane reply. I wonder if the Minister is aware that this child lives two and a half miles away from the pick-up point on the other side of a mountain. The pick-up point is at Derryvaleawama, and she lives on the other side of the mountain at Tumloughmore in Recess. I doubt if the Minister could claim that that was within easy range for this young pupil whom the nuns, in their humane attitude, have agreed to educate as a boarder. I am asking the State to pay for that child's education and to compensate the religious order for giving the child the education which they recognise is needed. They recognise it would not be possible to expect the child to walk that distance.
It is a very long question.
In putting down the question, I had hoped the Minister would investigate the matter thoroughly and make a humane decision, but I am bitterly disappointed.