asked the Minister for Education the plans she has for the raising of higher education grants to third level students for the autumn of 1984 and for the raising of the income eligibility levels.
Questions—Ceisteanna. Oral Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
10.
These matters will receive consideration in the context of the preparation of the specimen higher education grants scheme for 1984. It is anticipated that the relevant official circular in this connection will be issued to local authorities before the end of May.
There appears to be a word omitted from the question but I am sure that responsibility for this rests with me and not with the General Office. The question should have referred to the raising of the parental income eligibility but I know from the Minister's answer that he understood the point of the question. The Minister has stated that a circular will issue in May to the relevant bodies but can he be more specific since we are talking of an urgent matter, a matter affecting students who are now making their plans and which of course is affecting also the parents who have to foot the bill? It has been three years since income eligibility and grant levels were increased. In a matter of such grave national importance, is the Minister in a position to let the young people concerned know if there is to be more money to finance them for third level education?
I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that I could not say at this stage whether there are to be increases in grants.
Perhaps the Minister could give a little encouragement to those young people and their parents.
I should like to be in a position to stand over any statement that I would make. The question of an increase will depend on the resources available. The present means test limits and levels of maintenance grants were introduced with effect from the beginning of the 1981-82 academic year when the increased rates in maintenance represented an increase in value of 66 per cent on the preceding year. It would not be possible for me, and I doubt if it would be possible for the Minister either, to say at this stage whether grants will be increased in the next academic year. The question of an increase will depend on the available resources. Therefore, any forecast at this time would be mere speculation.
Is the Minister committed to seeking from Government a greater commitment to third level education funding, particularly in the context of a statement in the programme for action which included the words, "in accordance with the ordering of priorities afforded by the Government to education"?
Is the Deputy talking about the Minister or about myself?
The Minister of State is representing the Minister here.
Is the Minister permitted to seeking from Government a greater allocation of funding for third level education?
I am sure that in the normal course the Minister will be making an application for an increase in the grants and in the income limits in that respect but I am saying that the outcome and the grant situation will depend on the resources available at that time.
In view of the publication of the Finance Bill and of the implications of the budget statement, is the Minister not in a position at this stage to say what the likely level of increase will be? I am not trying to extract from the Minister a figure to the nearest decimal point but can he tell us the level of increase that is likely?
That is a separate question but, as I have said, I am not in a position to state what exactly the position will be for the next year.
Is the Minister committed to going to Government to seek a significant and realistic increase in this area?
That is certainly a separate question, whatever about the others.
Perhaps it would be more appropriate to ask the Minister of State if he has good intentions in regard to the raising of the grants in respect of third level education.
That is a separate question.
Are the Minister and the Minister of State not committed to increases in this area?
I have assured the Deputies in relation to the intentions of the Minister but she must be governed by the resources that are available just as in the case of any other Minister in regard to seeking extra resources for his or her Department.
There is a distinction between seeking and being committed to finding. I am asking if the Department are committed to seeking increases in respect of third level education grants and eligibility levels.
I have given the Deputies all the information that is available to me and I have spelled out that information in as much detail as possible.