asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in sanctioning higher education grants by local authorities for students attending third-level colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
2.
Mr. Kitt
I do not consider that there has been undue delay in sanctioning higher education grants.
Mr. Kitt:
Is the Minister aware that last year Galway County Council were severely criticised for delay in paying grants when in fact there was only a two day delay on the part of Galway County Council? Does he not consider that this is most unfair on the local authority? What steps does he intend to take to speed up the payment of higher education grants?
The facts are that sanction issued within ten days in the case of 373 grants and within 21 days in the case of 32 grants which were incomplete when they were received in the Department. No unnecessary delay occurred.
Mr. Kitt:
Students need money, particularly in the first term of college, to buy books, provide food and so forth. Does the Minister not consider it most unfair that these grants do not arrive until the end of November? Is it any wonder that students are taking to the streets, protesting at the treatment they are geting from the Minister?
The reason for taking to the streets may be other than the particular question we are discussing at the moment.
Mr. Kitt:
Does the Minister know why they are taking to the streets?
These applications are treated as matters to which early replies are required and are attended to in the Department accordingly.
Would the Minister be surprised to find that some third-level grants were not paid until January, 1976, for the academic year 1975-76?
Some such cases may exist but in those cases it is not possible to issue the sanction immediately because (1) the necessary information is not supplied by the local authority with the application or (2) the question of approval of the course of study being followed by a student has to be examined. If the information is complete there is no unnecessary delay.
Would the Minister in his communication with the local authorities emphasise how important it is to forward the grants as early as possible when secondhand books are available to students at the beginning of the academic year?
I certainly will do all I can to obviate any difficulties in this matter. If any Deputy has a specific case which he wants to bring to my attention I will attend to it, but in general there is no unnecessary delay.