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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 1

Written Answers - Student Support Schemes.

Question:

390 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has addressed the issue of grant docking of ESF grants with the EU Social Fund; if his attention has been drawn to the concern relating to the operation of these grants with many students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27316/98]

Richard Bruton

Question:

419 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the system of docking of maintenance grants in some courses at third level; his views on whether the fact that this system applies to only some third level students is grossly unfair; and the amount of maintenance grant payments students are losing through this inequitable system. [3609/99]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 419 together.

The objective of the middle level technician and higher technical-business skills programme is to enhance industrial competitiveness and growth by providing initial third level education and training to meet the technical and higher level manpower needs of the economy and the regulations emphasise the extent to which training conditions mirror the reality of the work environment, thereby preparing trainees for the workplace.

The regulations governing the middle level technician and higher technical-business skills programme state that: "Trainees on the programmes will be subject to normal industrial disciplines during training regarding time keeping, absenteeism etc., and the Institute Authorities will be required to reflect these factors in the payment of allowances. Trainees may be allowed sick leave without reduction in the level of grant for a maximum of 15 days per academic year. All such absences must be notified to the Institute Authorities in writing." Normal industrial discipline refers to the normal conditions which exist in the workplace, for example notifying absences due to illness in writing to the college authorities. My Department does not have any details in relation to the amount of maintenance grants payments students are losing under this provision of the ESF maintenance grants scheme and it had not been brought to my attention that this provision is causing concern to many students.

The higher education grants scheme and the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme allow for the payments of grants in three equal instalments. These grants are paid on the basis of the student continuing to be a registered student at college rather than a roll call taken on a daily basis which is the system which operates on ESF aided courses in the institutes of technology.

The method of payment of grants under the various student support schemes is one of the issues which will be addressed in the context of the review of the administration of the third level student support schemes which is being undertaken by officials of my Department and the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.

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