Denis Naughten
Question:14 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to review third level maintenance grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7506/98]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
Michael D. Higgins
Question:24 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the research, if any, carried out by his Department as to the way in which essential costs for third level students living away from home, particularly the cost of accommodation, have increased in recent years; if the system of third level maintenance grants has kept pace with these increases; the proposals, if any, he has in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7525/98]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 14 and 24 together.
I am engaged in an ongoing review of all aspects of the third level maintenance grants schemes, namely, the higher education grants scheme, the vocational education scholarship scheme and the ESF-aided maintenance grants scheme. Deputies will be interested to note that some 60 per cent of certificate and diploma students in the technological sector and 40 per cent of students in the university sector are eligible for maintenance grants. In the 1996-97 academic year, almost 48,000 students received grants under these schemes at a cost of some £91 million in 1996.
No specific research has been carried out by my Department about the increases in costs affecting students. My Department draws upon data prepared by the Central Statistics Office on inflation and wage costs. Maintenance grants have been increased in recent years in line with changes in the Consumer Price Index. Similarly, the reckonable income limits for grant eligibility have been increased in line with movements in the average industrial wage. The question of increasing maintenance grants and income limits for the 1998-99 academic year will be considered in the context of the annual review of these schemes. I expect to be in a position to announce details of the student support schemes for 1998-99 in early May. I would, however, remind the Deputies that any improvements in this regard can be only considered in the light of overall resource constraints and other competing needs in the education sector.
My priority in the area of student support has been to honour the commitment given in the Programme of Government An Action Programme for the Millennium to introduce equitable support for students attending PLC courses. I have already advised the House of my intention to introduce grants, which will be at the same level as the third level maintenance grants, as soon as possible for students who are registered on PLC courses as of September 1998. Provision for the payment of the first instalment of these grants has been included in the 1998 Estimates.