Vol. 422 No. 4
157 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education if he will outline the estimated saving to his Department as a result of the introduction of means testing for ESF grants; if this means test will be administered by vocational education committees or local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As I made clear on a number of occasions, the objective in means testing ESF grants was to ensure greater equity in the use of available funds, that is, to redirect funds so as to provide for a greater number of students from lower-income families.
There will be no net saving. On the contrary, as a result of the increase in income limits which I recently announced, and the other improvements to the schemes which will come into effect next September, a substantial increase in allocation for student support will be required when the improvements are fully in operation. The maintenance grants scheme for ESF aided programmes will be administered by the vocational education committees.
