asked the Minister for Education the number of registered mature students at third level colleges; and the number of these students receiving grants.
Written Answers. - Registered Mature Students.
252.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the number of registered mature students at third level colleges, and the number of these students receiving grants, is not readily available to my Department at this time. The colleges concerned are being requested to supply the information regarding the number of registered mature students, and this information will be forwarded to the Deputy at a later date.
Local rating authorities and vocational education committees, the authorities responsible for the award of third level higher education grants and scholarships respectively, do not collect data on mature students for whom varying criteria are adopted by the different third level colleges. The amount of administrative work and time involved in compiling such data would be inordinate and would not be justifiable.