Vol. 372 No. 5
asked the Minister for Education if she intends to continue the modest scheme which operated under the auspices of the Minister of State with responsibility for Women's Affairs in the last Government and provided for a small number of grants to be awarded to unwaged women over 25 years of age, who were pursuing an approved undergraduate course in a third level institution.
99.
asked the Minister for Education if she intends introducing a scholarship scheme for mature male students along similar lines introduced by the former Minister in respect of mature female students; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 99 together.
A special grant scheme for mature women students was operated by the office of the Minister of State for Women's Affairs in 1985 and 1986 and was designed to help the successful candidates for the 1985-86 and 1986-87 academic years respectively.
It was recently decided that this activity should be transferred to my Department as the Department with specific responsibility for the provision of higher education. Procedures are being worked out at present for the implementation of the scheme which will be introduced in time for the 1987-88 academic year.
While I am sympathetic to the idea of a general scholarship scheme for mature students and am presently examining the possibilities in this regard, the final decision will have to be taken in the context of the present financial constraints affecting all areas including education.
