777 Mr. Collins asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in having payment of a transport grant in respect of the school term from Easter to June, issued to persons (details supplied) in County Cork. [11664/02]

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the family concerned have been sanctioned transport grant aid at the maximum rate with effect from September 2001.

Claims for payment of grant aid are generally made to the school transport section of my Department at the end of each school year by forwarding a statement from the school outlining the number of days the child attended and the number of days the school was open during the period. In cases of hardship it is open to a family to request payment on a more frequent basis.