Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 2

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Richard Bruton

Question:

335 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if the recommendations of the de Búitléir report on higher education grants have been implemented in full; the recommendations which have been rejected and the status of the remainder. [13509/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The Report of the Advisory Committee on Third Level Student Support, chaired by Dr. Donal de Butléir, was published in February 1995. A number of the recommendations of the committee have already been implemented, such as the abolition of the requirement of separate academic attainments for the award of a third level grant, the introduction of new arrangements for second-chance students and the establishment of a budget to assist students at college who are encountering financial hardship. The maintenance grant schemes have also been extended to candidates pursuing full-time undergraduate study of not less than two years duration pursued in a university or third level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in other EU member states, with certain exceptions.

A single and simplified application form for the grant schemes was introduced in 1995 and, following the introduction of the post leaving certificate scheme in 1998, a composite application form for all four schemes of student support was introduced in 1999.

In response to the recommendation that the information provided on grants should be upgraded and be available through local schools, considerable progress has been made. Information booklets and leaflets have been available for a number of years from the administering bodies and from the Department. This information is also readily available on the Department's website. An information leaflet was included with the 2000-01 CAO application form and it is planned to make available a further booklet entitled A Guide to Grant Assistance available for Further and Higher Education 2000.

One of the principal recommendations in the report was that income tax relief in respect of covenants in favour of children aged 18 years and over – with the exception of covenants to handicapped persons – should be phased out and the revenue used to increase direct expenditure under the student support schemes. The Deputy will be aware that the restriction of income tax relief on covenants to individuals in 1995-96 was linked to the introduction of the free fees initiative.

The schemes of student support are subject to on-going review and the other recommendations of the report are considered in this context. Officials of my Department have been engaged with officials of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs in a detailed review of the administration of the student support schemes and on the options for the future administration of these schemes. This process is on-going.

Any proposals to change the administration of the schemes would have major implications, for example, for the local authorities and the vocational education committees. Therefore, it is my intention that there will be full consultation with all interested parties before any decisions are taken in relation to any future arrangements.