Alan Shatter
Question:105 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has read the comments (details supplied) on the inadequacy of student maintenance grants; and his views on whether this assessment is accurate. [3629/99]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
I have read the media reports regarding the Provost's comments to the effect that the low level of student grants was the greatest disincentive to all young people from disadvantaged backgrounds wanting to go to college.
I agree that the question of financial support is a critical one facing students from disadvantaged backgrounds in considering third level education; however, the factors underlying the low participation at third level of students from disadvantaged backgrounds go far beyond this question. Indeed, the need for a holistic approach to promote equality rather than policies focused only on the third-level sector and on the transition from second to third level, is well established. In this regard, fuller participation in third level depends on measures to ensure access to and retention of students in full-time education at first and second levels.
I am determined to target resources on the issue of broadening and deepening participation in further and higher education. In particular, I am committed to targeting the most disadvan taged groups with the keys being summed up as access, diversity and progression.
The promotion of access must deal with tackling disincentives of tradition and support. In particular, colleges must outreach and additional support should be available where it is needed. Between direct funding from my Department, and funding through the HEA, almost £900,000 is spent on this area in the current academic year and I have recently announced details of a £6.9 million two-year funding initiative to tackle educational disadvantage in the third level sector. Of this funding, £3 million is being specifically allocated to promote access to third level among students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including people with disabilities. A further £1.5 million is being provided to address the issue of non-completion of courses in institutes of technology. Details of the allocation of these additional resources will be announced in due course when I have fully considered how best to proceed in these areas.
A diversity of provision is also essential to expanding access. It is not good enough to concentrate on the supposed high-status degree level courses. A system which is to have any credibility must have a balance and the opportunities provided by high quality sub-degree courses are a critical part to any effective plan to promote participation. As I have mentioned before, I see this sector expanding and will not tolerate any attempt to undermine it.
Ensuring progression between levels is also key to expanding participation. The low level of progression at the moment is simply unacceptable and I have said on many occasions that I expect institutions to join the effort to expand its operation. The qualifications Bill which I will be publishing will be an important part of guaranteeing routes of progression through further and higher education.
On the specific issue of the value of the maintenance grants, with some 50 per cent of the third level population qualifying for maintenance grants, the schemes cannot be described as a targeted measure aimed at helping the poorest of students. I believe that we should aim to increase the income available to students in need, but because of finite resources, 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.
I have already indicated my intention is to first seek to deal with the more significant anomalies or disincentives in the grants scheme before dealing with the more general issue of grant levels. In this regard, I have announced that the anomalous situation of independent mature students will be addressed with effect from the coming academic year, when all eligible mature students will qualify for the higher non-adjacent rate of grant.
For the record, I advise the Deputy that my officials have been in contact with the Provost regarding his comments and the Provost has confirmed that his comments were in relation to the grants available to students from disadvantaged backgrounds rather than grant levels generally. Indeed, the Provost has welcomed the approach I have taken to tackling disadvantage in education and strongly supports the need to target resources at those students from disadvantaged backgrounds.