Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 5 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 3

Written Answers. - Institutes of Technology.

Willie Penrose

Question:

164 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science the allowances available for students attending institutions of technology who are living more than 15 miles from the college; if there is a special away from home allowance for students who do not qualify for the usual maintenance grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21018/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

Under the student support schemes, means-tested maintenance grants are payable at either the adjacent or the non-adjacent rate. The adjacent rate of maintenance grant, currently £710, is payable where the grantholder's normal residence is 15 miles or less from the college which he or she is attending. The non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant, currently £1,775, is payable in all other cases.

There is no special ‘away from home' allowance payable by my Department to students who do not qualify for a maintenance grant. However, apart from the maintenance grants scheme and the free fees initiative, under which my Depart ment meets the cost of tuition fees for eligible undergraduate students in approved institutions, financial support is also available to students through the student assistance-access fund. The objectives of the fund are to assist students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise, due to their financial circumstances, be unable to continue their third level studies. The fund is administered by the third level institutions and provides direct financial support to disadvantaged students to assist them to remain on in college to complete their studies. I have recently increased the provision for this fund from £1.296 million in 1999 to £1.8 million in 2000.