Vol. 414 No. 4
239 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education whether he will reconsider the restriction in the present higher education grant scheme which disqualifies persons from low income families who get places in college, but do not meet the higher qualification standards required to obtain a grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The higher education grants scheme was amended in 1990 to reduce the number of honours required from four to two, which is the normal minimum required for admission to a degree-level programme.
Mature students may be admitted exceptionally without having met this requirement and the question of the amendment of the scheme to provide for such circumstances is at present under consideration, as agreed under the joint Programme for Government.
