Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 May 1994

Vol. 443 No. 1

Written Answers. - Education Grants.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

139 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Education the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan who wishes to go to agricultural college in Enniskillen would not be paid a grant in this regard; if these grants are EU funded; and, if so, the reason agricultural colleges in Northern Ireland are not treated the same way as ordinary colleges would be for grant purposes.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I understand from Monaghan County Council, which is the body statutorily entrusted with the administration of the higher education grants scheme in this case that the person in question did not formally submit a grant application.

Courses in the Agricultural College in Enniskillen are not currently approved for the purposes of my Department's third level student support schemes.

Under the Higher Education Grants Acts 1968-1978 grant aid is only payable to students attending approved courses in approved institutions. As the Agricultural College in Enniskillen is not an approved institution grant-aid under the third level student support schemes is not payable.

Grant-aid for such courses in Northern Ireland is only covered by the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture and is regarded as outside the remit of the Northern Ireland Department of Education.

There are no plans to include this college under my Department's third level student support schemes.