Michael Finucane
Question:117 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Education the grants which are available for mature students; and the criteria which apply to eligibility.
Written Answers. - Mature Student Grants.
The Deputy will be aware of the proposal in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress to reexamine the higher education grants scheme in a number of aspects, including the position of mature students.
At present under a special scheme, grants of £1,000 tenable for one year are made available each year for a number of mature women students who are pursuing approved undergraduate courses, satisfy income criteria and are not in receipt of other student support.
Mature students in the five colleges of education for primary teachers are catered for by a scheme which is based on the higher education grants scheme. The qualifying criteria in regard to academic attainments and means are the same as for the HEG scheme, but the results of leaving certificate examinations from 1968 onwards will be taken into consideration under the terms of the scheme.