asked the Minister for Education whether the recently announced additional scholarship scheme for students attending regional technical colleges differs in any respect from the scheme prepared when he took over the Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Technical Colleges Scholarship Scheme.
22.
Mr. R. Burke
I presume that the Deputy is referring to the arrangements which had been put in train before my assuming office. These arrangements visualised an extension in terms of value and of the number of the scholarships to regional technical colleges being awarded by vocational education committees.
My announcement related to the fact that the necessary authority for the increase in the number and value of the scholarships had been given.
23.
asked the Minister for Education if there has been discrimination as reported against secondary students in some areas in the operation of the scholarship scheme to regional technical colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Mr. R. Burke
The scholarships to regional technical colleges are offered by vocational education committees and all the committees with the exception of two accepted applications for scholarships from every type of post-primary school. I am making additional money available to committees this year for the purpose of increasing the number of these scholarships; this extra allocation will be conditional on the scholarship schemes being open to all eligible post-primary students in the committees' areas.