Brian O'Shea
Question:98 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to introduce a registration grant at third level (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1511/99]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
Question:
179 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science his views in relation to a pro posal by the Union of Students in Ireland to establish a registration grant which would provide initial payment for students where there is a difficulty in the receipt of the maintenance grant from the relevant local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27317/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 179 together.
The proposal referred to by Deputy O'Shea is to take £100 from the maintenance grant entitlement which would then be paid as a registration grant to maintenance grant recipients at the beginning of the academic year. The proposal has been made in the context of the ESF maintenance grants scheme where maintenance grants are paid monthly in arrears and where grant holders are subject to normal industrial disciplines regarding time-keeping and absenteeism and college authorities are required to reflect these factors in the payments of grants. Accordingly, it would not be feasible to accept the proposal in the absence of a review of the regulations governing the scheme.
These payment arrangements differ from those applying under the other two maintenance grants schemes for third level students namely, the higher education grants scheme and the VEC scholarships scheme where maintenance grants are paid in three equal instalments as early as possible in each term.
One of my priorities regarding third level grants is to ensure that students receive their first maintenance payment as early as possible in the academic year. With this in mind I brought the recoupment arrangements for the local authorities to a current year basis in 1997, which has improved the timeliness of payments to students. I believe that a focus on early payments is more appropriate than an approach which would further segment the payment of maintenance grants, with a consequential increase in the administrative burden on the local authorities and vocational education committees, without any benefit being derived by the students.
Nevertheless, I have already indicated that 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.