andMr. Donegan asked the Minister for Education if students from Cork who are doing veterinary medicine in Dublin receive a reduced rate of university grant; and the reason for the reduction.
64.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Student Education Grants.
63.
asked the Minister for Education whether he will arrange that when a student undertakes a university course in a faculty which does not exist at a university college adjacent to his or her home, he or she will receive the £300 grant or an appropriate proportion thereof.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 64 together.
The position in relation to the grants schemes is that they provide specifically that the higher rate of grant shall not be payable in respect of students who reside in an area adjacent to a university or other institution of higher education.
If I could be certain that a relaxation of that provision would not result in a situation where all types of claims were being made in relation to courses in different institutions then I might consider taking up with the local authorities the question of making an appropriaate amendment in the schemes. The case referred to in Question No. 63 is one that would appear to merit consideration in this regard. I shall consider the matter further.
Does not the Minister recall that in reply to a question of mine about two years ago when I pressed him on this he was inclined to say that such an arrangement could not be made but he did agree that where the faculty in question was not available at the particular centre he would consider application?
I think that exchange took place in the course of the debate on the Estimate.
That may be so, but in the light of that it is surprising that in a recent instance his Department should have rejected this proposal out of hand. I am glad the Minister says now he will look into it.
Certainly, I will look into it because I agree that there is a case for doing so.
65.
asked the Minister for Education whether in a case where a school student qualified for a scholarship to post-primary education in 1967, being over the relevant age limit of 11 on 1st April, 1967, and where such a student five years later qualified for a higher education grant but is ineligible to enter a university because he or she will not have attained 17 years by 1st January, 1973, he will arrange to defer payment of the grant for one year.
Since the introduction of the higher education grants scheme it has been the practice to approve applications submitted to my Department for the deferment of the grant where such deferment is required to enable the grant-holder to comply with the minimum age requirement for entrance to the third level course he proposes to follow.
Therefore, in this instance the particular student who has got the post-primary scholarship will be allowed to take the grant a year later without having to sit for the leaving certificate again?
Yes. He was under age when he qualified.