Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Apr 1995

Vol. 451 No. 5

Written Answers. - Grant and Scholarship Awards.

Dermot Ahern

Question:

120 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by a person (details supplied) in County Louth who is a second year student of a four year degree course in business studies with Japanese at the University of Coleraine who, as part of the course, is due to have a compulsory year out in Japan, whose fellow students from Northern Ireland and England will have their two compulsory return journeys paid and expenses of £100 per week for this studying abroad but who will not receive such funding in view of the fact that she is from the Republic of Ireland; in view of the fact that she is a citizen of a member state of the European Community, if she should have equal opportunities and benefits to those of her fellow students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6877/95]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Grants and scholarships awarded under my Department's student support schemes are tenable only in respect of attendance at approved institutions in Ireland (including Northern Ireland).

In the case of students holding higher education grants-scholarships in respect of attendance at approved institutions in Ireland, payment of grant may be continued for one year in respect of attendance in other EU countries under the ERASMUS programme.

To date I have been obliged, because of limited Exchequer resources, to confine financial support to students following approved third-level courses in Ireland including Northern Ireland.

However, I have this aspect of the student support schemes under review in the context of my consideration of the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Third-Level Student Support and the announcement by the Minister for Finance in his Budget Statement that maintenance grants would be extended to approved courses being followed by Irish students abroad with effect from the 1996-1997 academic year.