Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 28 Nov 2001

Vol. 545 No. 2

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

152 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide financial aid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; his views on whether it is possible for a low income family to fund such expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30104/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

Under the terms of my Department's free fees initiative, the Exchequer meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending approved full-time undergraduate courses, which must generally be of at least two years duration at approved colleges.

Eligibility under the initiative is subject to a number of conditions. For example, students who are repeating a year at the same level are generally not eligible for funding.

The third level institutions take decisions regarding eligibility under the free fees initiative, based on criteria issued by my Department. These institutions do not refer individual queries to my Department except in exceptional cases where, for example, advice regarding a particular condition in the criteria is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has, to date, been sought in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy.

Where an institution has not extended the benefit of the free fees initiative to an individual student, and the student is of the view that the free fees criteria have not been interpreted correctly in his or her case, a letter outlining the position may be sent to my Department.

In addition to the free fees initiative, my Department also funds three means tested maintenance grant schemes for third level education students in respect of attendance on approved courses in approved third level institutions: the higher education grants scheme; the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme; the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees.

The statutory framework for the higher education grants schemes is set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. On behalf of my Department, the local authorities administer the schemes, which are reviewed annually by my Department. The vocational education committees' scholarship scheme and the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees are administered on behalf of my Department by the vocational education committees.

All three schemes have broadly similar provisions, relating, for example, to age, residency and means, which govern the award of a grant. As with the free fees initiative, students who are repeating a year level are generally not eligible for funding for the duration of the repeat period in question.

Applications for a grant must be made to the relevant local authority or VEC. Decisions on applications are taken by these bodies, based on the terms of the schemes that issue from my Department. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department, except in excep tional cases where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has been sought to date in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy.

If an individual applicant considers that he or she has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, he or she may appeal to the relevant local authority or VEC.

Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by the relevant local authority or VEC and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the schemes correctly in his or her case, a letter outlining the position may be sent to my Department. Alternatively, as already indicated, the local authority or VEC may, in exceptional circumstances, seek clarification on issues from my Department.

It is not open to me or my Department to depart from the terms of the maintenance grants schemes in individual cases. Until such time as an application has been considered by the relevant local authority or VEC, all inquiries regarding an individual application should be directed to the body concerned rather than to my Department.

Apart from the maintenance grants schemes and the free fees initiative, under which my Department meets the cost of tuition fees for eligible undergraduate students in approved institutions, financial support is also available to students in approved third level institutions through the student assistance access fund. The objectives of the fund, which is ESF aided, are to assist, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, students who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances.

The fund is administered on a discretionary and confidential basis by each third level institution and provides direct financial support to disadvantaged students to assist them to remain on in college. I increased significantly the provision for this fund from £1.296 million in 1999 to £1.964 million in 2000.