andMr. E. Collins asked the Minister for Education why a list of proposed scholarship-award winners prepared by the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee submitted to his Department in September 1979 was not approved until May 1980; if he is aware of the hardship and distress caused to a number of students who apparently were subsequently unable to take up the scholarships on account of the delay; if he will explain the delay; and if he will outline the normal practice in these matters.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Dublin VEC Scholarships .
39.
: My Department did not receive from the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee any list of proposed scholarship award winners prepared by that committee in September 1979 and the approval issued by my Department in May 1980 was in respect of the terms of the scheme. A list proposed by the committee on 29 May 1980 was received in my Department on 5 June 1980 and awards as proposed on that list were sanctioned formally by my Department on 26 June 1980.
My Department and the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee were in continual correspondence about this and other scholarship schemes between July 1979 and June 1980 in the context of an authorisation of an increase of more than 100 per cent for 1979 compared to 1978 in the allocation for scholarships and grants to students, subject to an amendment on the terms of the committee's scheme.
: Is the Minister aware of any hardship or distress caused to any would-be scholarship students arising directly from delays in his Department?
: I am not so aware. In fact, I got no communications from any student or any parent.
: Would the Minister accept that he should be so aware and that I will ensure that it is brought to his attention?
: I would like to have anything like that brought to my notice. I did not receive any complaint from a parent or a student.
: It is the Minister's Department who are responsible.
: My Department are responsible for doubling the allocation.