Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Nov 1993

Vol. 435 No. 10

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Máirín Quill

Question:

79 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the financial burden being placed on families, particularly families in the PAYE sector, in financing third level education for students who, under the present system, are not eligible for grant aid; when the findings by the Review Body on this issue will be made known; the action, if any, that will be taken to bring a greater sense of equity and justice into third level grant systems; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

John Connor

Question:

85 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Education if she will consider a relaxation in the income rules governing eligibility to qualify for third level education grants where it can be clearly shown that parental or other family illness puts unusual and unforeseen strain on the family income in cases where the gross pay of the parent or parents exceeds the guidelines laid down on paper.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

89 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education the reason the maintenance grant for higher education students was not increased in line with inflation in 1993, as has been the practice for more than ten years; if, in view of the difficulties that this will create for low income families trying to put their children through third level education, she will now increase the grant; the progress, if any, that has been made in regard to the promised review of the higher education grants system; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Micheál Martin

Question:

93 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education her views on whether the present higher education grant scheme discriminates unfairly against applicants from the PAYE sector.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

153 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education the proposals, if any, she has to alleviate the financial liability of parents of students who do not qualify for third-level grants and particularly those with a number of children in higher education; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I am taking Questions Nos. 79, 85, 89, 93 and 153 together.

In accordance with the provisions of the Programme for a Partnership Government I am committed to widening access to third level education, including continued improvement of the student support schemes. As the Deputies will be aware, important and significant changes were introduced in the student grants system in 1992 and 1993. Those changes include more equitable and rigorous procedures for assessing income, major improvements in income eligibility limits and fee grants and an increase in the income limit for those with more than one child in full-time third level education.

Unfortunately, it was not possible, because of the constraints on Exchequer resources, to increase maintenance grants in 1993.

The issues raised by the Deputies about the difficulties of low income and PAYE families in putting children though college are being examined by the Expert Advisory Group which I established earlier this year. The group has been asked to recommend, inter alia, appropriate criteria for assessment of eligibility on grounds of means with reference to equity and the financial capacity of parents and applicants to pay. The report of this group will be available in the near future.