Michael Ring
Question:404 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science when a top-up grant will be payable to persons eligible for same. [30600/01]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
My Department funds three means-tested maintenance grant schemes for third level education students in respect of attendance on approved courses in approved third level institutions and one grant scheme in respect of post leaving certificate courses: the higher education grants scheme; the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme; the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees; and maintenance grants scheme for students attending post leaving certificate courses.
All four schemes have similar provisions, relating, for example, to residency and means, which govern the award of a grant.
The arrangements for the payment of maintenance grants under the higher education grants scheme are a matter for the local authorities, while the vocational education committees make payments under the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme and the maintenance grants scheme for students attending post leaving certificate courses.
While it is the vocational education committees that assess applications under the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees, the third level institutions, approved under the scheme, are responsible for payment of the maintenance grants to individual students.
Under the terms of the higher education grants scheme and the vocational scholarship scheme, maintenance grants are paid, in three equal instalments, as early as possible in each of the three terms of the academic year. Payments under the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees and the grant scheme for students attending post leaving certificate courses are made in monthly instalments, in arrears.
With regard to the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students, my Department has forwarded full details of this initiative to the local authorities and vocational education committees, with a request that it be implemented with effect from the 2000-01 academic year.