Vol. 446 No. 3
308 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Education if she will give consideration to whether local authorities should be recouped the administrative costs of implementing the third level grants in their areas on behalf of the Government. [2155/94]
The arrangement which has obtained since the higher education grants were introduced in 1968 is that a local authority's expenditure on grants in a particular financial year is recouped at the beginning of the following year. Administration costs by the local authorities are not included in this recoupment.
My Department ensures that claims submitted by local authorities in respect of expenditure in the previous year are paid promptly.
I have no plans to change the existing arrangements in relation to administration costs.
