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 under the three student support grant schemes in operation for third level students. As such, the grants schemes cannot be described as a targeted measure aimed at helping the poorest of students. We should aim to increase the income available to students in need, but we must have priorities and we must target those most in need. In this regard I would point out to the Deputy that expenditure on these schemes in the current year will be in the region of £80 million. This is in addition to the cost of meeting third level tuition fees which will be some £140 million in 1999.
Each year the student support grant schemes are reviewed and improved as resources permit and such a review will be undertaken for all the schemes for the coming academic year. In 1997 and 1998 grant levels were increased in line with inflation. I am particularly concerned about mature students generally and independent mature students in particular in regard to the rate of grant payable. With effect from the coming academic year all eligible mature students will qualify for the higher non-adjacent rate of grant. This improvement is estimated to cost £2.4 million over the next two years. This cost will be met from the additional funding which is being allocated over the next two years to tackle educational disadvantage at third level.
This initiative also includes £3 million specifically to promote access to third level among students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including people with disabilities. I will announce details of the allocation of the additional resources in due course when I have fully considered how best to proceed in this area. I would also remind the Deputy that I have removed the greatest anomaly in student support by the intro duction of grants for post-leaving certificate students.
I very much accept that students in many parts of the country are experiencing particular difficulties in finding good affordable accommodation. I do not believe that an across the board major increase in grants is the appropriate response. Rather I believe that the core issue is a need to increase the availability of dedicated student housing and the resultant release of pressure from the rented sector. The Government is addressing this issue in the context of tax relief provisions for student accommodation which will be provided for in the forthcoming Finance Bill.
I have previously indicated that my priority at third level is the creation of additional places and to this end I have already increased by 8,000 the number of student places available. I have also established the Scientific and Technological (Investment) Fund with a provision of £280 million which is additional to the normal Estimates provisions. At third level the fund will address in particular a serious shortfall in accommodation and will provide additional capacity.