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 people receiving long-term welfare payments, in respect of whom continued child dependant allowance is being paid, by virtue of their being in full-time education. This scheme covers child dependants in the age group 18 to 22 years. The action group recommended that, subject to specific conditions, the special rates of maintenance grant should also be available to mature students, that is, students aged 23 and over. My Department forwarded full details of this initiative to the local authorities and vocational education committees in July 2001, with a request that payment be made with effect from the 2000-01 academic year.