Vol. 482 No. 4
112 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, the Government has to introduce financial assistance for those attending post leaving certificate courses; and the aid, if any, there currently is for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is attending such an equestrian course. [18301/97]
The position is that PLC courses are provided by my Department in schools and colleges outside the third level sector. Consequently, students attending such courses are not eligible for grant support under the terms of the higher education grant schemes.
To provide a means-tested maintenance grant scheme for post-leaving certificate students along the lines of the higher education grant schemes would cost in the order of £13 million per annum. The programme, An Action Programme for the Millennium, contains a commitment to provide "equitable support of students attending PLC courses". The commitment in the Programme for Government reflects the importance which the Government attaches to students in the PLC sector. The implementation of this commitment, including the timing of the introduction of an appropriate scheme, is under examination.
