Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2004
302 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether it is unfair that the maximum grant a student under 23 who lives adjacent to their third level college can obtain is €1,800 for the 2003-04 academic year, while a student over 23 in the same location can receive €4495; if he will address this inequality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20488/04]
View answerUnder the student support schemes, maintenance grants are payable at either the adjacent or the non-adjacent rate. The adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable where the grant holder's normal residence is 15 miles or less from the college which he or she is attending. The non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in all other cases, with the exception of all eligible mature students who, with effect from the 1999-2000 academic year, qualify for the higher non-adjacent rate of grant. In each case the shortest, most direct route to college is measured to establish the distance concerned.
