27.—(1) The Board may, on application to it and subject to this Part, pay a grant (a “grant”) to or in respect of a person who was a resident in an institution during any part of his or her childhood or a relative F2[or the civil partner within the meaning of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010] of such a person to assist the person or the relative to avail of such educational services as the Board may determine.

(2) A grant shall be of such amount, be in respect of such educational service, be paid at such time or times, and be subject to such conditions, as the Board may determine and communicate in writing to the person who made the application in respect of it.

(3) The Board shall determine the criteria by reference to which it will make decisions under this section as to the payment of grants under it and the Board shall make any such decision by reference to those criteria accordingly.

(4) Criteria determined under subsection (3) shall be recorded in writing and published by the Board in such manner as it thinks fit.