Conor Lenihan
Question:921 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the provision his Department makes for people who wish to move from permanent employment to full-time education due to personal circumstances. [24736/00]
Written Answers. - Student Support Schemes.
My Department provides a range of education and training programmes on a full-time basis under which free tuition is available for adults. These include post leaving certificate courses provided by vocational education committees and second level schools throughout the country, nationally certified certificate and diploma programmes in Institutes of Technology, and under-graduate courses in universities. The vocational training opportunity scheme also offers second-chance education and training for adults over 21 who have been unemployed for at least six months. Tuition is free and a training allowance is paid in lieu of welfare entitlements. This provision is complemented by training programmes offered by FÁS and other training bodies. Information on such options is available by contacting the local VEC, FÁS office or third level college or the Employment Support Offices of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.
Conor Lenihan
Question:922 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the support he will make available to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 who would like for health reasons to change from being self employed to being in full-time education with a view to a job. [24737/00]
The Department of Education and Science funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students, which are administered by the local authorities and Vocational Education Committees.
County Dublin Vocational Education Committee has informed my Department that the person in question has been awarded a full maintenance grant at the non-adjacent rate, currently £1,775, under the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees.
Apart from the maintenance grants scheme and the free fees initiative, under which my Department 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.
In this regard, the student to whom the Deputy refers may wish to contact the student welfare officer, or other officer responsible for administering the fund, in the college attended, for further information on the fund.