asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the circumstances involved, he will reconsider the application for a higher rate of higher education grant made by a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grant Scheme.
176.
The higher education grants scheme is administered by the local authorities (county councils and county borough corporations). As it is understood from Dublin County Council, the local authority administering the scheme in the area of the student concerned, that here normal family residence is within 15 miles of the educational institution which she is attending, only the lower adjacent rate of grant is payable in this instance.
177.
asked the Minister for Education the action he has taken in regard to the bar to the receipt by theology students of grants under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 and 1978; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The question of the payment of grants under the higher education grants scheme to students of theology will be considered in the light of legal advice which I am awaiting concerning the general implications of Article 44.2.2 of the Constitution relating to the State endowment of religions and the specific provision in section 7 of the Irish Universities Act, 1908, which precludes the payment of State grants, inter alia,“for the provision or maintenance of any theological or religious teaching or study”.
Pending receipt and consideration of this advice it will be appreciated that I am not in a position to make any further statement in this matter.
178.
asked the Minister for Education (a) the date on which moneys were made available to local authorities for the provision of grants under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 and 1978, and to vocational education committees for the provision of scholarships to regional technical colleges and colleges of technology; (b) the average date of payment of such grants and scholarships to students; and (c) the amount of interest which was accrued by local authorities and vocational education committees in respect of such moneys.
Since the introduction of the higher education grants scheme in 1968 expenditure by local rating authorities under the scheme in a particular financial year is recouped by my Department in the following financial year. There is no undue delay in my Department in recouping expenditure to any particular authority after an application for recoupment is received.
In the case of vocational educational committees, funds for the provision of scholarships to regional technical colleges and colleges of technology are included in my Department's annual grant to vocational education committees. This grant is paid in quarterly instalments.
The administration of the higher education grants and the VEC scholarships schemes has been statutorily entrusted to the local rating authorities and the vocational education committees respectively. The specimen higher education grants scheme issued by my Department to the local authorities each year contains provisions as follows:
(a) The lecture fee portion of the grant-holder's grant will normally be paid direct by the ... County Council/Corporation ... to the institution at which the candidate is attending.
(b) Every effort will be made by the ... County Council/Corporation ... to pay the maintenance element (if any) of a grant-holder's grant in three equal instalments, one as early as possible in each term, and the individual paying orders will be addressed to the grant-holders c/o the Bursar's Office of the University or other educational institution concerned.
Similar provisions are contained in the specimen vocational education committee scholarships scheme issued annually by the Department to each committee.
It is a matter for each local authority and vocational education committee to apply these provisions in its functional area and I would be concerned if there was any undue delay in the payment of grants or scholarships to students. As I indicated in reply to Question No. 63 on Thursday, 6 November 1986. I am having the procedures for the award of grants-scholarships examined with a view to ameliorating any difficulties that may exist in the operation of the schemes. I am also arranging for discussions to take place with the County and City Managers Association.
As recoupment in respect of the local authorities' expenditure on the award of higher education grants in a particular financial year is made by my Department in the following financial year, accrual of interest does not arise.
In the case of vocational education committees my Department is not in a position to indicate the extent of bank interest, if any, accruing to VECs specifically in respect of scholarship moneys as a VEC operates one bank account in respect of the entire range of its activities.