Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Nov 1980

Vol. 323 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Higher Education Grant Scheme .

24.

Mr. E. Collins

asked the Minister for Education if he will state in respect of each academic year since 1970-71 (a) the number of students who have held a grant under the Higher Education Grant Scheme and (b) the number of such grant-holders in each county and county borough in the State; and if he will make a statement in the matter.

Mr. Wilson

: With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate, for inclusion in the Official Report, a tabular statement giving the information requested by the Deputy.

Following is the statement:

Local Authority	Academic Years
1970/71	1971/72	1972/73	1973/74	1974/75	1975/76	1976/77	1977/78	1978/79	1979/80
1.	Co. Carlow	32	37	45	57	52	53	48	54	57	51
2.	Co. Clare	59	60	66	70	74	93	100	107	114	106
3.	Co. Cavan	130	141	161	197	199	220	232	206	189	166
4.	Cork Corporation	218	270	277	327	335	346	333	295	268	242
5.	Co. Cork	362	469	539	599	647	645	632	638	593	552
6.	Co. Donegal	96	140	171	188	194	220	207	208	189	177
7.	Dublin Corporation	499	567	620	652	669	388	573	560	499	491
8.	Co. Dublin	205	263	334	363	405	634	355	319	292	261
9.	Co. Galway	258	298	333	364	407	457	484	510	514	486
10.	Co. Kerry	228	261	315	326	361	392	392	374	354	363
11.	Co. Kildare	62	74	95	113	111	109	106	97	104	86
12.	Co. Kilkenny	54	71	98	114	128	122	132	118	98	98
13.	Co. Laois	44	62	87	92	99	93	92	92	72	80
14.	Co. Leitrim	26	34	38	48	62	66	67	75	64	70
15.	Co. Limerick	119	140	171	173	178	201	210	192	195	180
16.	Limerick Corporation	95	111	123	130	135	137	123	142	131	114
17.	Co. Longford	32	32	37	39	47	48	50	56	55	52
18.	Co. Louth	86	84	97	100	108	126	101	97	94	95
19.	Co. Meath	66	86	96	105	129	125	133	110	93	87
20.	Co. Mayo	157	166	209	229	311	334	350	336	338	309
21.	Co. Monaghan	40	55	65	64	74	84	94	88	84	90
22.	Co. Offaly	63	89	90	104	112	113	114	113	106	99
23.	Co. Roscommon	78	90	127	126	160	159	153	156	149	147
24.	Co. Sligo	71	101	112	121	134	130	126	114	111	90
25.	Co. Tipperary N.R.	82	120	105	137	160	171	186	181	160	147
26.	Co. Tipperary S.R.	113	136	149	168	173	175	178	143	183	153
27.	Waterford Corporation	33	46	32	43	55	50	53	44	37	40
28.	Co. Waterford	43	63	66	65	76	84	98	91	87	78
29.	Co. Westmeath	67	89	105	120	135	135	141	114	106	105
30.	Co. Wexford	94	115	126	151	153	172	165	137	118	117
31.	Co. Wicklow	50	63	65	69	59	81	80	81	87	87
Total number in academic year	3,562	4,333	4,954	5,454	5,942	6,168	6,108	5,848	5,541	5,219

Mr. E. Collins

: Could the Minister indicate to the House if in the past three years the number of students who hold or have held grants under the Higher Education Grant Schemes has fallen?

Mr. Wilson

: The answer is divided into various counties.

Mr. E. Collins

: It is quite simple. It is the reply to (a) the number of students who have held a grant under the Higher Education Grant Schemes. Did the numbers go up or down in the past three years?

Mr. Wilson

: I think they went down slightly as far as I can make out.

Mr. E. Collins

: Is that not unfortunate?

Mr. Wilson

: I am also aware that the amount of money available for the VEC people has gone up from £392,000 to £902,000 since I took office.

An Ceann Comhairle

: A final question, Deputy Collins.

Mr. E. Collins

: Could the Minister give me the number of grantees since 1977 — 1977-1978, 1978-1979, 1979-1980?

Mr. Wilson

: I have asked the Ceann Comhairle to circulate these figures. There is a whole list of them.

Mr. E. Collins

: If the Minister could give those three figures, it would be helpful.

Mr. Wilson

: For County Carlow——

Mr. E. Collins

: Generally under paragraph (a) in the question.

Mr. Wilson

: There are huge sums of money involved. For 1979-1980 the figure is 5,219.

Mr. E. Collins

: And for 1978-1979?

Mr. Wilson

: Five thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.

Mr. E. Collins

: Do I take it from the Minister's reply——

An Ceann Comhairle

: I called a final supplementary. I allowed quite a number.

Mr. E. Collins

: I asked three questions only.

An Ceann Comhairle

: The Deputy asked quite a number.

Mr. E. Collins

: I want to ask the Minister is he perturbed at the fall in the number of HEA grantees over that period?

An Ceann Comhairle

: Question No. 25.

Mr. Wilson

: The money has trebled.

Mr. E. Collins

: Numbers have fallen and inflation has doubled.