Derek McDowell
Question:83 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to significantly increase the income limits for third level grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7783/99]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
My approach to increasing income limits has been to follow the practice of recent years including that followed by the last Government and increase the reckonable income limits in line with movements in the average industrial wage. The figures are provided by the Central Statistics Office and are computed in each case to March of the previous year. The average industrial wage increase for the period March 1996 to March 1997 was 3.2 per cent. The reckonable income limits for the 1998-99 academic year were, therefore, increased by 3.2 per cent. This increase was also applied to the allowance by which the income limits may be increased in respect of other family members pursuing a course of study.
In the context of the annual review of the student support schemes, I intend to continue with this practice and increase the reckonable income limits for the 1999 schemes in line with the relevant increase in the average industrial wage to March 1998. Having regard to the competing demands for the available resources, I have previously outlined my intention to tackle the anomalies within the schemes and target resources to those most in need as a first priority, rather than applying significant across the board increases to the income limits or the grant rates.
In this regard, I was 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.
My priority in the area of student support has been to honour the commitment given in the programme for Government, An Action Programme for the Millennium to introduce equitable support for students attending PLC courses. I have honoured that commitment by way of introducing a maintenance grants scheme for students attending post leaving certificate courses with effect from the current academic year. The grants payable under this scheme will be at the same level as the third-level maintenance grants. It is estimated that expenditure on these grants will be in the region of £14 million in 1999.