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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 5

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Brendan Smith

Question:

161 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals he has to improve the eligibility criteria and level of payments for higher education grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18399/01]

My Department operates a number of schemes, administered by the local authorities and vocational education committees, which provide for means tested higher education grants in order to assist students to attend full-time third level education.

The practice of recent years has been to increase third level maintenance grants at least in line with inflation and the reckonable income limits at least in line with movements in the average industrial wage. My Department expects to issue the higher education grants scheme 2001 shortly, with details of revised rates of maintenance grants and revised income limits.

Late last year I announced that I was setting up a special project team to carry out a comprehensive review of every aspect of the maintenance grants, and other student supports, to ensure their relevance to the needs of present day third level students. This review, which is at present in progress, is a wide-ranging review to include the level of grants, the methods by which they are paid, eligibility and income limits, accommodation needs, student support services, the most suitable paying agency, the provision of an appeals system, student loans and taxation. Issues relating to the implementation of the team's recommendations will be addressed when its report has been completed.

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