asked the Minister for Education if adequate provision is made in his Department's grant to University College, Galway, to enable the university to continue issuing scholarships to meritorious students who do not qualify for county council grants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - UCG Scholarships.
12.
Mr. R. Burke
The grants for general purposes to University College, Galway, as well as similar grants to the other university colleges, are at the highest level consistent with available resources.
The total amount which has been voted for University College, Galway, for 1975 is £2.2 million pounds. Within that amount a sum of the order of £8,000 is required to continue issuing the scholarships in question.
The authorities of all the universities have requested additional grants for 1975 and this request is under consideration.
Is the £8,000 mentioned by the Minister to continue payment of existing scholarships or does it allow the university to continue to issue new scholarships as it had been doing over the previous number of years?
Mr. R. Burke
The £8,000 in question is in respect of a specific number of scholarships at a given amount each.
Is that money being used for the creation of new scholarships or merely to continue paying the scholarships which were issued some years ago?
Mr. R. Burke
That is a detail on which I have not got specific briefing.
Has there been any reduction in the number of scholarships which the university had been issuing in these circumstances?
Mr. R. Burke
I am not aware that there has been any reduction in the number.
The Minister is not aware that the university have reduced the number of scholarships which they have been issuing?
Mr. R. Burke
That is what I am saying.
Would the Minister look into the matter again?
Mr. R. Burke
I will.
Would the Minister consider maintaining the level of the scholarships?
Mr. R. Burke
It is not a question of maintaining the level——
The number.
Mr. R. Burke
Increasing the number is the point at issue. I will have this investigated.