The Department of Education and Science funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students: higher education grants scheme; vocational education committees' scholarships scheme; third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees; and European social fund-aided maintenance grants scheme for students attending post leaving certificate courses.
The higher education grants scheme is administered by the local authorities. The other three schemes are administered by the vocational education committees.
While I accept that the operation of the schemes can be improved, delays in processing applications in many cases arise where the administering body is awaiting further information from applicants or where applications have been accepted after the closing date for their receipt.