Vol. 469 No. 1
392 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education the total number of students attending regional technical colleges who receive grant assistance on the basis that they live more than 15 miles from the college they attend; and the number who receive grant assistance on the basis that they live less than 15 miles from the college they attend. [16279/96]
The information which the Deputy requires is not readily available as the data in relation to the higher education grants scheme and the vocational education scholarship scheme is not collated on a sectoral basis.
The adjacent rate of maintenance grant is paid to students who reside less than 15 miles from the third level institution being attended while those who live more than 15 miles are paid the non adjacent rate.
The following is the position in relation to the number of students who are in receipt of European Social Fund-aided maintenance grants in the regional technical college sector in 1995-96: adjacent — 2,656; non-adjacent — 10,959.
393 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of allowing students who live less than 15 miles from the college they attend, the same level of grant assistance as allowed to students who live more than 15 miles from the college they attend. [16280/96]
It is tentatively estimated that to allow students who are presently on the adjacent rate of maintenance grants under the student support schemes to avail of the same level of maintenance as those currently on the non-adjacent rate would cost about an additional £11 million per annum.
