Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 7

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Richard Bruton

Question:

398 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science whether he has received a report from each local authority handling the higher education grants detailing, in particular, the number of grant applications received, the number where additional information had to be sought, the number of applications where approval was not issued in good time, the number of cases where payment was late, the average delay where payment was late and the average cost of processing an application; and the progress in 1998 and the time frame for conclusion of his review of the grant administration system. [6947/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I have not received a report from each local authority setting out the information referred to by the Deputy. My Department receives annual statistical returns from the local authorities which contain information such as the number of new awards and renewals, the cost, the categories of grant awarded and the institutions attended.

In relation to the review of the grant administration system, the position is that a joint working group involving officials from my Department and the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs has carried out a preliminary examination of options for the future administration of the student support schemes. I received the preliminary report of this working group in December last and this report forms the basis for the current discussions I am engaged in with my colleague, the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, regarding a more detailed review which will involve the participation of interested parties. I have previously indicated that no irrevocable decisions will be taken in relation to any future arrangements without appropriate consultation with all interested parties. At this stage, it is not possible to predict the outcome of the more detailed review.

On the issue of the timeliness of payments, I have taken a number of measures in 1997 which I am confident will result in speeding up the payment of higher education grants by local authorities. These measures include bringing the recoupment arrangements for the local authorities to a current year basis and making a payment to all local authorities in December 1997 to enable them to issue the second instalment of maintenance grants for the 1997-98 academic year to students before the end of 1997.