John McGuinness
Question:1109 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the extra financial assistance which is available to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if a further grant is available. [1190/02]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
John McGuinness
Question:1110 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the assistance available to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny to keep her two children in third-level education. [1206/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1109 and 1110 together.
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 (PLC) courses.
It is the local authorities which, on behalf of my Department, administer the higher education grants scheme. The three other schemes are administered, on behalf of my Department, by the vocational education committees. All four schemes have similar provisions, relating, for example, to residency and means, which govern the award of a grant.
The report of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education makes detailed recommendations concerning the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students, usually referred to as "top-up" grants. The action group considered that the target group of "those most in need" could best be defined in terms of the child dependants of claimants of long-term welfare payments, in respect of whom continued child dependant allowance is being paid, by virtue of their being in full-time education, that is, child dependants in the age group 18 to 22. The action group recommended that the special rates of maintenance grant should also be available to mature students, that is students aged 23 and over.
To qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant a candidate must meet a number of conditions, one of which is that he or she must already qualify for one of my Department's ordinary maintenance grants. Where a student is already in receipt of a grant under one of these schemes, he or she may apply to the relevant local authority or VEC for the special rate of grant. Decisions on applications are taken by these bodies, based on the conditions and terms issued by my Department. The eligibility requirements for the special rates of maintenance grant will be reviewed with a view to extending eligibility. A first step will be to assess the coverage and effec tiveness of the implementation of the special rates in this first year of operation.
Apart from the maintenance grants schemes 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, in approved third level institutions, through the student assistance-access fund. The objectives of the fund, which is ESF-aided, 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 on a discretionary and confidential basis by each third level institution and provides direct financial support to disadvantaged students to assist them to remain on in college. I increased significantly the provision for this fund from 2.49 million, £1.964 million, in respect of the academic year 2000-01 to 7.49 million, £5.9 million, in respect of the academic year 2001-02.
John Moloney
Question:1111 Mr. Moloney asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Offaly is not receiving the special rate of maintenance grant 2000. [1216/02]
The report of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education makes detailed recommendations concerning the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students, usually referred to as "top-up" grants. The action group considered that the target group of "those most in need" could best be defined in terms of the child dependants of claimants of long-term welfare payments, in respect of whom continued child dependant allowance is being paid, by virtue of their being in full-time education, that is, child dependants in the age group 18 to 22. The action group recommended that the special rates of maintenance grant should also be available to mature students, that is students aged 23 and over.
To qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant a candidate must meet a number of conditions, one of which is that he or she must already qualify for one of my Department's ordinary maintenance 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 – PLC – courses. All four schemes have similar provisions, relating, for example, to residency and means, which govern the award of a grant.
Where a student is already in receipt of a grant under one of these schemes, he or she may apply to the relevant local authority or VEC for the special rate of grant. Decisions on applications are taken by these bodies, based on the conditions and terms issued by my Department. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular condition is desired.
If an individual applicant considers that he or she has been unjustly refused the special rate of maintenance grant, he or she may appeal to the relevant local authority or VEC. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by the relevant local authority or VEC, and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the conditions correctly in his or her case, a letter outlining the position may be sent to my Department.
The person, to whom the Deputy refers, has appealed, to my Department, the decision taken by the VEC in his case. My Department has upheld the VEC's decision, as the person referred to is not in receipt of an eligible payment under the terms of the scheme and, therefore, cannot be considered for the special rates of maintenance grant. I will arrange for my Department to forward to the Deputy full details of the eligibility criteria for the special rates of maintenance grant.
The eligibility requirements for the special rates of maintenance grant will be reviewed with a view to extending eligibility. A first step will be to assess the coverage and effectiveness of the implementation of the special rates in this first year of operation.
Apart from the maintenance grants schemes 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, in approved third level institutions, through the student assistance-access fund. The objectives of the fund, which is ESF-aided, are to assist students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who due to their financial circumstances, might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies.
The fund is administered on a discretionary and confidential basis by each third level institution and provides direct financial support to disadvantaged students to assist them to remain on in college. I increased significantly the provision for this fund from 2.49 million, £1.964 million, in respect of the academic year 2000-01 to 7.49 million, £5.9 million, in respect of the 2001-02 academic year.