Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2004
469 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Science the student support schemes and measures available under the aegis of her Department to assist a third level student of a private college (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30157/04]
View answerThe higher education grants scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts 1968 to 1992. Under the scheme, an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year's duration pursued in an approved institution. An approved institution is defined to mean a university, university college or other institution of higher education in so far as it provides a course or courses of not less than two years' duration, being a course or courses that the Minister for Education and Science approves for the time being for the purposes of the Acts.
Each year a list of approved institutions is specified for the purposes of the scheme. The approved institutions mainly comprise of publicly funded third level institutions. In this regard, the college to which the Deputy refers is not an approved college for the purpose of the scheme. Any extension to the scope of the grants scheme to include private colleges such as Portobello College can be considered only in light of available resources and in the context of competing demands within the education sector. There are no plans to extend the scope of the student support schemes to private colleges.
