Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 June 2026
208. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total cost to her Department of the remote area boarding grant for island children attending school on the mainland; the number availing of the grant; and the cost per year over the past five years. [44874/26]
View answerThe purpose of the Remote Area Boarding Grant is to provide 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 0016/2016] which is published on the department’s website at - gov.ie/en/department-of-education/circulars/remote-area-boarding-grant-scheme/
The maximum grant payable under the scheme may not exceed €4,947 per student per school year. The grant is payable after each school term to the school or parent/guardian, whichever is appropriate, subject to verification by the school that the student has been in full-time attendance for the period concerned and a statement of the annual maintenance charge for the boarding or lodging fees, whichever is applicable, is provided.
The total expenditure on the remote area boarding grant over the past five years and the number of applicants paid the grant over the past five school years is outlined in the tables below.
|
School year |
No of students paid the Remote Area Boarding grant |
|
21/22 |
169 |
|
22/23 |
166 |
|
23/24 |
162 |
|
24/25 |
151 |
|
25/26 |
129 |
|
Vote financial year |
Expenditure for Remote Area Boarding Grant |
|
2021 |
€835,037 |
|
2022 |
€807,709 |
|
2023 |
€837,284 |
|
2024 |
€826,334 |
|
2025 |
€729,533 |
