Student Support Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Questions (392)

Seán Kyne

Question:

392. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the progression stipulation of the student support scheme regulations is impacting negatively on mature students who are seeking to avail of qualifications at the same level of an existing one in a different sector which has more employment opportunities; and if consideration will be given to introducing a one-off opportunity for prospective students to receive support to enrol in a course at the level of an existing qualification with the provision that it be in a different sector. [38369/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

To satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course, having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another, where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course. The objective of this policy is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study. Given the level of demand on the student grant budget from first time students and students that are progressing with their studies to a higher level, there are no plans at present to change the arrangements in place.