Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Feb 1992

Vol. 415 No. 7

Written Answers. - Students' Grants.

Jim Higgins

Question:

80 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education if he will outline the percentage of each European Social Fund grant for a student in (a) a regional technical college and (b) a Dublin Institute of Technology college which has to be contributed by the Exchequer.

Minister for Education (Mr. S. Brennan)

There is no distinction made between students attending regional technical colleges and those attending Dublin Institute of Technology colleges in the matter of ESF grant assistance or the Exchequer contribution.

The European Social Fund (ESF) provides 65 per cent of the cost of EC aided programmes up to the limit of assistance available from the fund with the Exchequer meeting the remaining 35 per cent of the costs. Once the limit is reached the Exchequer must meet in full all further costs. The limit has already been reached and, as a result, in the current year, the Exchequer must meet the total costs of some 2,600 students enrolled on EC aided programmes in vocational education committee colleges.

Jim Higgins

Question:

81 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education if he will outline (1) the amount of finance received from the European Social Fund for students attending regional technical colleges and Dublin Institute of Technology colleges in each of the years 1986 to 1991 and (2) the numbers of students who received European Social Fund grants in each of the above years.

Minister for Education (Mr. S. Brennan)

The amount of grant-related assistance received from the European Social Fund and the number of ESF grant-holders in the institution referred to is as follows:

	Aid £m	Grantholders
1986	4.88	10,606
1987	4.92	11,499
1988	5.65	12,283
1989	7.85	19,327
1990	11.92 (+.91 outstanding (Estimated))	20,232*
1991	8.52 (+2.38 outstanding Estimated))	22,176* (Estimated)

*In view of the fact that the limit of ESF aid was reached with an enrolment of 19,600 students, 632 students in 1990 and 2,576 students in 1991 were funded entirely by the State.