asked the Minister for Education if the 1984 higher education grants will be paid without delay in order to minimise difficulties for students and avoid interest payments by local authorities.
407.
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
406.
asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that delays in higher education grant payments cost Galway County Council £70,000 in overdraft interest charges last year, a sum which is not reimbursed by her Department and that those charges are putting severe pressure on the finances of the local authority and causing it to delay payment of students' grants; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
410.
asked the Minister for Education the reasons for the delay in paying higher education grant finance to local authorities; and if she is aware of the hardships caused to students because of this delay.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 406, 407 and 410 together.
The higher education grants scheme is administered by the local authorities (county councils and county borough corporations). Accordingly, it is a matter for each local authority to ensure that payments in respect of the higher education grants awarded by them are made at the appropriate time. The arrangement in regard to recoupment to the local authorities in respect of their expenditure on the grants which has operated since the introduction of the grants scheme in 1968 is that such recoupment is paid by my Department in the financial year immediately succeeding that in which the expenditure is incurred. There is no undue delay in making payments in respect of such recoupment.
In the case of Galway County Council recoupment in respect of their expenditure in 1983 on higher education grants was made by my Department on 10 January 1984.