Vol. 490 No. 7
68 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to improve the system of maintenance grants for students attending colleges in the university and technological sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11085/98]
The student support schemes are subject to ongoing review in my Department. 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 the schemes at a cost of some £91 million in 1996.
Maintenance grants have been increased in recent years in line with changes in the consumer price index. Similarily, 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 is being considered in the context of the annual review of the schemes. I expect to be in a position to announce details of the student support schemes for 1998-99 later this month.
I remind the Deputy, however, that any improvements in this regard have to be considered in the light of overall resource constraints and other competing needs in the education sector.
