asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties of mature students in qualifying for third-level grants; and if she plans to amend the higher education grants scheme to allow a greater proportion of mature students to benefit under the scheme and thus make third-level education more accessible to such students.
Written Answers. - Mature Student Grants.
220.
While there is no specific provision in the higher education grants scheme relating to mature students, there is no upper age limit in the scheme at present and it is, therefore, open to a mature student to sit the leaving certificate examination in the normal way for the purposes of qualifying for a grant on grounds of academic attainments and means.
I have no plans to amend the higher education grants scheme in this regard.