Vol. 511 No. 2
160 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has made provision in the Estimates for increases in third level grants income qualifications and payments in accord with movements in average earnings and in the average cost of living; and the additional increases, if any, he plans in these payments or eligibility criteria over and above indexation. [23931/99]
My approach in relation to the value of higher education grants has been to follow the practice of recent years and increase the maintenance grants in line with inflation as measured by the change in the consumer price index for the period mid February to mid February each year. Provision has been made in the education Estimates for further indexation in this regard. Similarly in relation to the reckonable income limits, I have increased these limits in line with movements in the average industrial wage in the previous year. The reckonable income limits were increased by 4.6% for the 1999-2000 academic year based on the increase in the average industrial wage for the period March 1997 to March 1998. I have also applied the increase in the reckonable income limits to the allowance by which the income limits may be increased in respect of other family members pursuing a course of study. In such cases, for the 1999-2000 academic year, the reckonable income limits may be increased by £2,160 where there are two such children, £4,320 where there are three, and so on by increments of £2,160. I intend to follow this practice for the 2000 higher education grants scheme.
As the Deputy will appreciate, any improvements in the higher education grants scheme and the student support schemes generally must have regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands in the education sector. I have previously indicated my intention to first seek to deal with the more significant anomalies or disincentives in the grants schemes before dealing with the more general issue of grant levels and income limits.
In this regard, my priority 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 and introduced a maintenance grants scheme for students attending post leaving certificate courses with effect from the 1998-99 academic year.
I have also announced that, with effect from the 1999-2000 academic year, all eligible mature students will qualify for the higher non-adjacent rate of grant. I was particularly concerned about mature students and independent mature students in particular in regard to the rate of grant payable. This improvement is estimated to cost £2.4 million over the next two years.
161 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give details of the proposed scheme for topping up the third level grant scheme in respect of disadvantaged pupils, including the eligibility criteria proposed and the payments. [23932/99]
Considerations are ongoing on this matter and details will be announced as soon as they are finalised.
