Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 7

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

David Stanton

Question:

340 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the supports available to Irish students studying in England; the number of students involved; the cost to the State; the plans, if any, he has to increase these supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12601/99]

David Stanton

Question:

342 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will increase the value of the maintenance grant to Irish students taking third level courses in Britain in view of the loss of value due to currency differential and living costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12604/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 342 together.

In 1996, the student support schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to undergraduate students pursuing approved third level courses in other EU member states. Prior to this, grants were only payable to students who were pursuing approved courses in the Republic and Northern Ireland. In this context and following discussions with the local authorities regarding the necessary administrative arrangements, it was agreed that students pursuing approved courses in other EU member states, including Northern Ireland, would be paid the value of the grant in the currency of the country in which they were studying and that the value of the maintenance grant to be paid in all circumstances would be the Irish value converted to the currency of the country in which the student is pursuing his or her course. Previously, students studying in Northern Ireland were paid the amount of the grant in sterling, without reference to exchange rates. Those students studying in Northern Ireland who were assessed under the student support schemes prior to 1996 continue to receive their grants in sterling, without reference to exchange rates. Students who commenced their studies from 1996 are paid under the revised arrangements. While I appreciate that the current exchange rates do not favour grant holders who are studying in Britain or Northern Ireland, I believe that these arrangements are equitable and efficient.

There is no provision within the student support schemes for the local authorities or vocational education committees to supplement the grant payable to students studying in Britain. Indeed, such a supplement could not be made without giving rise to an anomalous inequityvis-à-vis students studying elsewhere in the EU.

The statistical information available for the academic year 1997-8 shows that 1,789 students were in receipt of maintenance awards under the higher education grants scheme in respect of undergraduate studies in the UK, other than in Northern Ireland, and other EU member states at a cost of £2.78 million. A breakdown of the figures for 1997-8 by local authority area is attached. The figures for the 1998-9 academic year are not yet available. Separate figures are not available for Britain. However, it is understood that the majority of grant holders studying outside of Ireland are, in fact, in Britain.

The higher education grants scheme does not provide assistance towards attendance at postgraduate courses outside Ireland.

The statistical information is set out in the following table:

Local Authority	No. Undergraduate students studying in UK (other than Northern Ireland) and other EU Countries (in receipt of Maintenance Grant)	Cost to the State (Maintenance Payments) 97/98 Academic Year
		£
Cork Corporation	65	95,308
Dublin Corporation	134	205,241
Limerick Corporation	15	23,383
Waterford Corporation	18	28,902
Carlow County Council	21	33,292
Cavan County Council	35	58,440
Clare County Council	51	78,764
Cork County Council	181	267,686
Donegal County Council	118	186,430
Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council	78	110,063
Fingal County Council	60	96,960
South Dublin County Council	56	87,430
Galway County Council	101	168,329
Kerry County Council	57	82,283
Kildare County Council	46	69,984
Local Authority	No. Undergraduate students studying in UK (other than Northern Ireland) and other EU Countries (in receipt of Maintenance Grant)	Cost to the State (Maintenance Payments) 97/98 Academic Year
		£
Kilkenny County Council	44	71,456
Laois County Council	21	34,104
Leitrim County Council	23	33,774
Limerick County Council	63	91,955
Longford County Council	21	30,539
Louth County Council	57	80,870
Mayo County Council	84	136,416
Meath County Council	56	116,226
Monaghan County Council	44	65,547
Offaly County Council	17	25,984
Roscommon County Council	36	57,487
Sligo County Council	32	50,991
Tipperary N.R. County Council	30	45,572
Tipperary S.R. County Council	33	51,968
Waterford County Council	34	53,505
Westmeath County Council	52	77,292
Wexford County Council	58	88,660
Wicklow County Council	48	76,163
Totals	1,789	2,781,004