asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that higher education grants awarded in the State are not tenable in Northern Ireland colleges, and so on, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
72.
Written Answers. - Validity of Educational Grants in Northern Ireland.
71.
asked the Minister for Education if he will recognise colleges in Northern Ireland which provide courses not available in regional colleges in Border areas in the Republic for grant purposes.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together.
Higher education grants are tenable in Northern Ireland in respect of attendance at degree courses in the New University of Ulster, Coleraine, and in Queen's University, Belfast, and at approved courses in the Ulster Polytechnic, Joardanstown, Newtownabbey, County Antrim.
Suitable courses in other third level colleges would also be approved for the purposes of tenure of the grants by applicants who fulfilled the required conditions at the leaving certificate examination.
73.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the difficulties being experienced by students from the Republic attending third-level colleges in Northern Ireland whose grants have fallen in value against sterling and his proposals to alleviate this hardship caused to students.
The variation between the Irish pound and the pound sterling at the present time is not such as would cause hardship for the students concerned.