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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Post-graduate Scholarships.

Denis Naughten

Question:

1236 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the total number of post-graduate scholarships awarded by third level colleges which are funded from public moneys. [1970/01]

Denis Naughten

Question:

1238 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the total number of post-graduate scholarships awarded by third level colleges which are funded from public moneys and are above the value of £5,000. [1972/01]

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 1236 and 1238 together.

The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available to my Department. As the Deputy will appreciate, third level institutions offer a diverse range of scholarships funded from a variety of sources, including from their own resources and from private donations.

Under the programme for research in third level institutions, which is co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund, third level institutions compete for funding for institutional research programmes. These programmes can include the awarding by the colleges of post-graduate scholarships. A total of 236 such awards have been made since the launch of the first cycle of the programme in 1999. The per capita amount awarded for scholarships varies according to institution and field of study.

Some 49 post-graduate scholarships were awarded in 2000 under the post-graduate R&D skills development initiative in the technological sector. These scholarships are valued at some £7,000 annually.

Government of Ireland research scholarships are awarded by the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences. More than 200 postgraduate scholarships have been awarded by the council since its establishment in 1998, including 93 awards for the academic year 2000-2001. These awards attract a maintenance allowance of £8,000 per annum for a maximum of three years.

I recently announced the establishment of the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology. The new council will be putting in place, within these fields of study, similar post-graduate scholarship arrangements to those applying in the humanities and social science areas.

Denis Naughten

Question:

1237 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will increase the scholarship limit of £5,000 in clause 2.2 of the higher education grant scheme as a number of students have been refused grants on this basis even though their scholarship may be only marginally above this limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1971/01]

The clause in question states that a can didate shall not be eligible to hold a higher education grant if s/he holds: (i) scholarship-grant awarded by either a VEC or the Department of Education and Science; (ii) any other award payable from public funds; or (iii) the equivalent of (i) or (ii) from another EU member state. There is a similar provision in the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme.

The provisions at (ii) or (iii) above do not include awards such as scholarships, prizes or bursaries, made by the institution being attended or postgraduate research grants, where the grant received does not exceed a specified amount, which for the 2000-01 academic year, is IR£5,000. An exception to this IR£5,000 limit is being applied for the 2000-01 academic year in the case of students holding a Government of Ireland research scholarship, awarded by the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences. The local authorities and vocational education committees, which administer the schemes of student support, have been informed accordingly.

In line with normal practice, my Department will be reviewing the provisions of the student support schemes when drafting the schemes for the 2001-02 academic year. The limit of £5,000, cited in clause 2.2 of the higher education grants scheme, will be reviewed in this context.

Question No. 1238 answered with Question No. 1236.

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