asked the Minister for Education the number of leaving certificate candidates who got four honours or the equivalent in matriculation-recognised subjects in the 1976 leaving certificate; the number eligible for third-level grants under existing rules; and the number who availed themselves of grants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Leaving Certificate Candidates.
28.
The number of candidates who obtained the necessary successes at the leaving certificate examination in 1976 to qualify for higher education grants on grounds of attainment was 6,056.
It is not possible to say how many of these students would be within the means limits prescribed for the purpose of the grants scheme.
The number of grants awarded by the local authorities in 1976 is understood to have been approximately 1,230.
In view of these appalling figures and the case made in this House on a Private Members' motion of the disgracefully low level of the grants and of the eligibility limits, could the Parliamentary Secretary say when the results of the fundamental review of the whole scheme will be published and when both grants and eligibility limits will be raised?
I am not in a position to give any information as to the alteration of the means limit in this case. This matter is under review. However, the figures are in no way appalling in the sense that there is no reason to presume that all, or indeed, even necessarily a majority, of the people who attain the qualifications necessary in the leaving certificate would be seeking higher education grants because some of them might not wish to proceed to higher education at all but might wish to pursue their careers in another way.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that in this day and age an eligibility limit which even mentions £1,600 per annum for a worker is ridiculous? Would the Parliamentary Secretary further say why the results of the fundamental review have not been published seeing that the Minister said in this House some time ago that he had all the facts in from the various local government authorities?
Those are separate questions.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.