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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Nov 1972

Vol. 263 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

29.

asked the Minister for Education if his attention has been drawn to a newspaper report (details supplied) of a statement by the president of UCC in relation to his failure to announce changes in the higher education grants scheme before registration started for the current university session and if he will make a statement on the matter; whether the university got official notification from his Department and, if not, if he considers that this is fair treatment towards educational authorities.

I have seen the report in question. The changes in the higher education grants scheme were announced through the Government Information Bureau on 27th September last and were widely publicised in the news media. Details of the changes were communicated to the local authorities on 29th September.

Does the Minister not seriously consider that the date of the announcement of the change was rather late and could he not have arranged to have the announcement made much earlier? Furthermore, does he not consider that the criticism offered by the president of University College, Cork was most reasonable having regard to the lateness of the announcement?

I do not accept that the announcement was too late. The situation is that the grant students do not pay a fee. The fees are paid by the local authority and the students have simply to inform the university authorities that they are grant holders.

The Minister agrees that local authorities in many instances facilitate the students—is that not so?

Is it not a fact that the students require this information before the examinations?

That has no bearing on this question.

It has, of course.

Not at all.

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