asked the Minister for Labour the reason students of the applied computing course in Limerick NIHE are no longer eligible for grant-aid from his Department as in 1979; and if he will review the situation and restore the grants.
Written Answers . - NIHE, Limerick, Course Grants .
407.
: The Manpower Consultative Committee, which is representative of employers, trade unions and appropriate government agencies, recommended a number of measures to alleviate identified skill shortages in Irish industry, which I subsequently approved.
These measures included certain short-term conversion courses designed to enable students to augment an existing qualification and so equip themselves for employment in occupations where critical shortages were being experienced.
Maintenance allowances were provided for all eligible students taking part in approved conversion courses in the 1979-80 academic year. These courses were of one year duration with the sole exception of a two year M.Sc course in electronic science at UCC. Towards the end of that year the position regarding occupational shortages and the conversion course programme was reviewed. It was found that the increased output from computer courses had relieved the supply situation in the computer industry. It also emerged that skill shortages in engineering disciplines were still acute. I decided therefore that the most effective use of the maintenance allowance scheme in the current academic year would be to apply its provisions to assisting students following engineering courses. Conversion course maintenance allowances are not payable therefore to students in short-term conversion courses in computer disciplines. The colleges concerned were advised of the position in early August of this year. It is possible, however, that some of these students are eligible for assistance under the Higher Education Grant Scheme administered by the local authorities under the aegis of the Department of Education.
The Manpower Consultative Committee continuously monitors changes in the manpower supply and demand situation. A further review will be undertaken towards the end of the current academic year and the necessary decisions taken.