Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Apr 2001

Vol. 533 No. 6

Written Answers. - Third Level Grants.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

419 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if figures on the percentage of third level students who are in receipt of a third level maintenance grant are compiled by his Department; and if so if he will provide such percentages for the years 1992, 1997 and the latest year for which figures are available. [9451/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

My Department compiles statistics on the number of third level students in receipt of maintenance grants. The percentage number of grantholders for the academic years 1992-93, 1997-98 and 1998-99 are set out in the following tabular statement:

Academic Year	Number of students in third level courses in institutions aided by the Department of Education and Science	Total number of third level grantholders*	Number of grantholders as a % of total number of students
1992-93	81,050	40,079	49%
1997-98	104,106	47,128	45%
1998-99	108,164	46,538	43%

*The total number of grantholders consists of those in receipt of maintenance grants under three schemes: the higher education grants scheme; the vocational education committees scholarships scheme; and the ESF aided third level courses maintenance grants scheme, now called the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees.

Prior to 1996 maintenance grants were only payable to students who were pursuing approved courses in the Republic and Northern Ireland. With effect from 1996-97, the student support schemes have been extended to provide maintenance grants to undergraduate students pursuing approved third level courses in other EU member states.

The total number of grantholders shown in the table above includes those students pursuing approved third level courses in Northern Ireland, the UK and other EU states. It is estimated that in 1998-99, of the total number of grantholders which is 46,538, up to 2,800 were studying outside the State leaving a balance of 43,738 or 40% of the total number of third level students pursuing courses here.