Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2004
45 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science that progress which has been made to date with regard to implementing the recommendations made in the report, Supporting Equity in Higher Education; the progress which has been made with regard to the introduction of a unified grants scheme and a more coherent administration system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5258/04]
View answerThe report, Supporting Equity in Higher Education, was published in August 2003. It was designed to provide options for my consideration in order to promote greater equity in access to and participation in higher education, therefore, maximising the benefits of the substantial investment being made in this area. As the Deputy is aware, on 25 May 2003 I announced a €42 million support package for disadvantaged students in higher education. In constructing this package of measures, I had regard to the various policy options outlined in chapter four of the report which were developed on the basis of their potential to improve equity of access to higher education. In this regard, I am glad to note that the number of students who benefited from the special rates of maintenance or top-up grant in 2002-03 has increased substantially on previous years and I expect that the number of students benefiting from the student support schemes in 2003-04 will involve a significant increase over 2002-03.
On the issue of reviewing the means test for third level grants, the report identified the fairness of the means assessment on which student support is based as being a vitally important issue in promoting equity. It noted that the current system is widely regarded as being inequitable and, in line with earlier reports, concluded that the introduction of a capital test would remove a significant perceived inequity in the system. The report also concluded, in this context, that the administration of the student support schemes needs to be reformed.
In accordance with our commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government, it is my intention to introduce a unified scheme. I also propose to put in place a more coherent administration system which will facilitate the introduction of more sophisticated means testing arrangements and ensure consistency of application and client accessibility as suggested in the report. My Department has commenced discussions with the Department of Social and Family Affairs to establish the extent to which that Department can assist in the streamlining of the administration of the single unified scheme which I intend to establish on a statutory basis to replace existing arrangements. My Department is also in contact with the Irish Vocational Education Committee and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, with which it will shortly be holding discussions about the future administration of the student support schemes. When these discussions are concluded, I will be in a position to make a final determination as to the most efficient and effective arrangements for the future administration of the schemes.
