asked the Minister for Education if he will consider extending higher education grants to include students in educational establishments other than universities.
56.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
55.
asked the Minister for Education the present position with regard to grants available to students in third level education; the number of students benefiting from grants; and whether in the light of representations made by USI any changes are contemplated.
57.
asked the Minister for Education whether any grants are available to students in regional technical colleges or whether this is under consideration.
58.
asked the Minister for Education if he will allow local authorities to accept late applications for higher education grants this year.
59.
asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement outlining the criteria that apply to the allocation of the recently increased university grants; the amount of each grant allocated for fees and the amount for maintenance; and if he will state whether these increased grants apply only to the higher-cost faculties.
60.
asked the Minister for Education why a university student (name supplied) is not in receipt of the recently increased university grant of £250 per annum per student and is receiving less by way of the maintenance portion of the grant than prior to the grant increase; and if he will investigate the matter.
61.
asked the Minister for Education if he will make arrangements for the payment of higher grants for students and for the payment of board and lodgings for students whose parents must pay for them; whether he has considered the case put forward for additional grants by the Union of Students in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 to 61, inclusive, together.
The Higher Education Grants Scheme has been amended with effect as from the beginning of the present academic year so as to provide for the revision of the rates of grant payable and the division of grants into two elements—a fee element and a maintenance element. Originally the grant consisted of a lump sum not exceeding £300 in the case of a student not resident in or adjacent to a university town and £175 in the case of a student residing in or adjacent to a university town. The new maxima are £406 and £256 respectively. These are made up of a sum not exceeding £156 in respect of fees and sums of £250 and £100 respectively in respect of maintenance.
The original scheme was less advantageous for students in the high-fee faculties in that such students had less for their maintenance and other expenses. The imbalance in amounts available for maintenance and other expenses has now been eliminated.
Grants under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act, 1968, may be held by eligible students at university degree courses in the National College of Art, in the Colleges of Technology, Bolton Street and Kevin Street, Dublin, and in the Institute for Higher Education, Limerick. These courses are recognised as equivalent to university degree courses but, as yet, no courses in regional technical colleges are so recognised. The total number of students holding higher education grants in the academic year 1971-72 was 4,333 of which 4,306 were in the universities and 27 were in other institutions of higher education. Figures for the present academic year are not yet available.
I might add that the vocational education committees operate separate schemes for the award of scholarships to the regional technical colleges.
The student referred to in Question No. 60 is not in receipt of a higher education grant of £250 per annum plus fees, because she lives in Dublin and her grant is calculated on the scale for pupils living in or near a university town. Her grant this year is £100, plus fees of £103, making a total of £203, against £200 last year.
With regard to late applications the position is that intending applicants were given ample time to apply for these grants as the latest date was the 31st August. I do not propose to allow local authorities to extend the date for the receipt of applications.
Would the Minister not agree that there are a number of students who are actually worse off this year under the new arrangements?
Hear, hear.
Would the Minister like to make a statement on that and tell us the number of students who are worse off this year than they were before the increase was granted?
I do not accept that. The total amount of money made available——
For maintenance?
——in a few instances is lower than it was last year but in all other instances it is much higher.
Why has the Minister reduced the total amount in many instances?
I have created a situation where the inequalities vis-à-vis students in various faculties have now been eliminated. In some instances, there is a small reduction. I will examine certain aspects of this in relation to the examination fees in National University, but in many other instances, particularly in regard to students in the high-fee faculties, they are getting more for maintenance than they got last year.
Is the Minister aware that there is discrimination in relation to maintenance under the new scheme, especially in relation to people from low-income families? Will the Minister provide supplementary grants for students holding higher education grants this year in order to offset the reduction which the students are suffering?
A reduction occurred in a relatively small number of cases in the university cities.
How many?
I do not know the exact number. I am examining the examination fee aspect. The amount is small and the vast majority of the grant holders are getting better maintenance grants than they got last year.
Has any consideration been given to the extension of the grants system? The Minister is aware of the anomaly whereby students of regional technical colleges are not in receipt of grants. Has any consideration been given, at official level, to such students?
It is not intended at present to extend the scheme of grants.
Are there any reasons for that?
There are a number of reasons. The total amount of money spent on education now is £93 million, as compared with £15 million in 1957.
Why go back to 1957?
Despite the very large total sum now available for education, like all other Ministers for Education throughout the world I feel that I could use more if I could get it. This situation applies not only to Ireland but to the other countries as well.
I am interested in the regional technical colleges. Is any consideration being given to them?
The amount of money available, even though it is very considerable is limited. I have to make sure that whatever money is available to me will be utilised to the greatest benefit of students. Therefore, it is being made available to those who need it and who are most likely to benefit from it. If I were to spread it more thinly that would create a situation where many of those who would benefit most from this money would have to say: "Sorry, the amount is too small; we cannot avail ourselves of it."
High priority should be given to those students who are excluded from any grants whatever in the regional technical colleges.
I thought the Deputy was referring to something else. In relation to the regional technical colleges I should say that grants are available to students following courses of degree standard. There are also scholarship schemes available from vocational education committees. I am having a look at these scholarship schemes.
Question No. 62. Could we get on with Questions instead of keeping to one question all evening?
(Cavan): With regard to scholarships to regional technical colleges, is the Minister aware that these scholarships were drastically curtailed this year and that one committee that I know of was invited to reduce its number from 11 or 12 to six and was also invited to pay for them out of moneys set aside for building repairs as the Department had no money to give to the committee to pay for these scholarships?
What I am aware of is that money was allocated to vocational education committees last year. They did not use up the full amounts made available to them. We increased the amount over and above the totals made available to them last year in practically every case but they stated then that we had cut the amount simply because they had made a higher estimation. We were operating on the basis of the amount of money they spent the previous year.
Question No. 62. Could we move on? I must insist. We cannot discuss this all evening.
Will the Minister give sympathetic consideration to those who suffered hardship under this new scheme?
I do not agree that anyone suffered hardship.
(Interruptions.)
I am sorry, I must insist on the Minister answering Question No. 62.
Does the Minister intend to introduce supplementary grants for students who are holders of grants this year?
I do not understand the Deputy.
Will the Minister introduce supplementary grants for grant holders this year?
I do not follow the Deputy.
Would the Minister define what he means by "in or near a university centre"?
I will leave that to the Deputy.