Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 4

Written Answers. - Millennium Partnership Fund.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

156 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the mechanism for applying for a special rate of maintenance grant, under the millennium partnership fund, for people who live in an area that is not a recognised partnership area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12688/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

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. In order to qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant a candidate must meet a number of conditions, one of which is that he 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: (a) the higher education grants scheme; (b) the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme; (c) the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees; (d) 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 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 are being 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.

As a separate measure also aimed at promoting access to third level education I announced, in September 2000, a millennium partnership fund for disadvantage with a provision of €1.2697 mill ion – £1 million – in 2001. The fund is intended to build on the experience of the support scheme for students from disadvantaged families, operated by the Northside Partnership, which assists students to participate in higher education.

The report of the action group on access, which I launched in July 2001, sets out detailed recommendations on the criteria that should apply in the disbursement of the fund.

Area Development Management Limited, ADM, under whose aegis the partnerships operate, accepted my Department's request that it would administer the fund for the 2001-2002 academic year and the partnerships and community groups, under ADM, were invited to apply for funding in the initial year. For the 2001-2002 academic year, 35 partnerships and community groups received allocations from the fund.

The action group also recommended that other organisations focused on the needs of particular sectors among the disadvantaged target groups should also be eligible to apply. This recommendation will be considered in the context of the disbursement of the fund in 2002 in respect of the 2002-2003 academic year.