asked the Minister for Education why a student who obtained five honours in this year's leaving certificate and who is too young to enter university must repeat the leaving certificate next year in order to qualify for a higher education grant; and whether he will change this regulation as there does not seem to be any good reason why the examination should be repeated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Higher Education Grant.
53.
As the scheme stands at present a student may qualify for a grant from the leaving certificate examination of the year in which he is accepted for higher education. Accordingly a student who is too young for entry to higher education must repeat the leaving certificate examination.
This is the first year of operation of the scheme and certain anomalies are bound to arise. For this reason I will be re-examining the scheme and I will bear in mind the case made by the Deputy.
As this young girl has received five honours in her leaving certificate is it fair that she should have to wait one year when she could be participating in some course at the university in order to obtain a degree, bearing in mind the possibility that she might not obtain the four honours when she repeats the examination?
The Deputy can take it that I will revise the scheme.
Will she have to do all the subjects?
Technically she is not in the age group and she will have to repeat them. I am going to revise the scheme to meet such a case.
When the Minister is revising the scheme will he take into account that exactly the same situation has arisen in connection with graduation from primary school to secondary school?
I know.
In these cases children are deprived of grant facilities under existing legislation.
I am aware of that.
Will the Minister consider these cases?
So far I have only directed my mind to the point raised by Deputy Foley.
I wrote to the Minister about primary and secondary schools and, perhaps, he will direct his mind to this matter?