asked the Minister for Education if he will amend the regulations governing the post-graduate higher education grants scheme as it affects students attending the first year LL.B. course at University College, Galway, who wish to qualify for entry to the four year course at the Dublin Law School; and if he will make a statement, as the problem was raised in a specific instance in Parliamentary Question No. 263 on 11 November 1981.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
1.
As I explained in my reply to the previous question to which reference is made, a grant may be paid only in respect of one primary degree course and one post-graduate course in accordance with the provisions of the higher education grants scheme. I would also refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave on 15 December to Question Nos. 19, 20 and 21 in which I stated that I am reviewing all aspects of the higher education grants scheme with a view to seeing whether further improvements can be effected.
Would the Minister take steps immediately to ensure that a grave injustice will not continue to be done to this student? Would the Minister agree she is being deprived of grants which are available to enable her to attend a post-graduate course on the grounds that an entrance qualification for the post-graduate course required that she would attend the first year of the LL.B. course in UCG? Because of the attendance at a one-year course, one year of which was an LL.B. course, to gain entrance to the other course, she was deprived of the university grant which would have been applicable to her? To move to Dublin to attend a course would involve this girl and her widowed mother in expense which they could not afford. The Minister knows the details of the case. A serious injustice is being done which requires an amendment to the regulations. I appeal to the Minister to take steps to change the regulations, to remove this anomaly and to allow this student the benefit of the university grants system which was set up to assist people in her circumstances?
The Deputy is obviously referring to the applicant who was the subject matter of a question some weeks ago.
I am, because it applies only to a student at UCG, it does not apply to a student attending UCD or Trinity College.
This question is of a general nature relating to all students who might be in similar circumstances in Galway. Then it refers to the specific instance of the question of 11 November. The Deputy has spoken to me in relation to this case and I have a great deal of sympathy with the young lady in question. However, the terms of the scheme are such as to debar people from obtaining grants to pursue two or more non-simultaneous post-graduate courses with grant aid or more than one primary non-simultaneous degree course. The reason for this is that at present persons as grant holders are eligible only to obtain grant aid for a primary degree and one post-graduate course. As the young lady in question had completed a primary degree in Galway and was grant-aided for a year's post-primary course in that university, the rules as framed would debar her from obtaining a grant to pursue a further course in Dublin. I have great sympathy for students who are in this situation in Galway and I am examining all aspects of the higher education grants scheme with a view to seeing if further improvements can be effected. If possible, I am anxious to provide relief for this student and similar students who may wish to pursue the course in the Incorporated Law Society, without at the same time, opening the scheme so wide as to have very far-reaching implications. As soon as I have completed that review, I shall be in touch with the Deputy.
I wish to express my thanks to the Minister for his generous response and I look forward to him taking action which will enable this student to have the benefit of university grants, and others who may find themselves in a similar situation in the future.
2.
asked the Minister for Education if he will now provide adequate funds to Galway County Council to enable increases in university grants to be paid to students; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Following discussions with the County Manager of Galway County Council, satisfactory arrangements have been made by my Department for the refund to the council of their expenditure in 1981 on higher education grants.
Have the grants been paid and, if so, when?
Local authorities recoup grants in the year following that in which they incurred the expenditure.
Have the grants been paid to the students?
I understand that the students have been paid their maintenance allowances by Galway County Council. The arrangement which my Department has now made is that we will make a payment to Galway County Council earlier in 1982 than would be normal, so as to improve their cash flow.
The grants to be paid in 1982 cannot be recouped until 1983 and this is causing the local authority to have an overdraft for a long time. Can the Minister do anything to help the local authority in question on that point?
Since 1968 local authorities are paid the money which they have expended in relation to higher education grants one year afterwards. While that might cause a problem in the first year of operation, the payment of the grant in the second year ought to help to fund the payment of moneys during the second year. In the past it has not been as big a problem for local authorities as it seems to be this year. Galway County Council seems to have been in particularly difficult circumstances. I understand it may well have been because the Government decided to improve maintenance grants by two-thirds on the amount which was paid by the previous Government and the local authorities, naturally, had not budgeted for that in their estimates for the year. They had to carry the additional moneys because of that improvement. I accept that it is not a satisfactory arrangement form the point of view of local authorities and I have made proposals to the Department of Finance with regard to making a change in the payment machinery. I understand it would be 1983 before the local authorities could benefit from that.