Vol. 512 No. 6
392 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding mechanisms in place to help persons attempting to enrol in full-time college courses; the funding available for women who have been out of the education system for a considerable period of time and are attempting to enhance their employment opportunities through additional third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26962/99]
Under the free fees initiative, the Department of Education and Science meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending full-time undergraduate courses, other than ESF aided courses in the institutes of technology, which must generally be of at least two years duration, at approved colleges.
Tuition fees are not payable on ESF funded certificate and diploma courses in the institutes of technology or on ESF funded post leaving certificate courses.
In addition the Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students: higher education grants scheme; Vocational Education Committees' scholarship scheme; European Social Fund-aided third level courses maintenance grants scheme for trainees; maintenance grant scheme for students attending European Social Fund aided post leaving certificate courses.
Generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means and nationality. Students who are repeating a year at the same level are generally not eligible.
However, since 1994 the higher education grants scheme and Vocational Education Committees scholarship scheme have included a concession for second chance students returning to college after a break of at least five years having previously pursued, but not completed, a third level course. This concession allows such students to be funded again for periods of study at the same level. Prior to 1994, a student did not receive financial assistance until they had completed the equivalent amount of time spent on their original course, irrespective of the length of time, which had elapsed between the two periods of college attendance. There are similar arrangements applying for second chance students under the free fees initiative.
As part of a major funding initiative at third level, the higher, non-adjacent rate of grant is now being paid to all eligible mature students under the student support schemes with effect from the 1999-2000 academic year.
All of the funding mechanisms set out above are available to women returning to full time education on the same conditions as apply to all candidates.
On the issue of programmes targeted specifically at women returning to education, I advise the Deputy of the Institute Equality Network Project, arising from the EU programme New Opportunities for Women, which is operational in six Institutes of Technology. Programmes under the project are specifically aimed at encouraging more participation by women in third level education, with specific focus on women who have been disadvantaged by a lack of educational opportunities.
