Vol. 509 No. 6
626 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the hardship caused to families and students attending third level colleges in Northern Ireland due to the exchange difference between the punt and sterling; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the difference for 38 weeks accommodation is as much as £320 per student; and if he will make arrangements to have this shortfall paid to those students. [21585/99]
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-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 Northern Ireland or Britain, 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 Northern Ireland. Such a supplement could not be made without giving rise to an anomalous inequity vis-à-vis students studying elsewhere in the EU.
