asked the Minister for Education if she will standardise the regulations regarding the payment of European Social Fund scholarship grants; and if she will standardise the method applied to checking of attendance for European Social Fund students.
Written Answers. - EEC Social Fund Grants.
517.
Uniform general procedures in connection with payment are prescribed by my Department in relation to the European Social Fund special training grants scheme in technical and technological colleges. The payment of these grants may be on a weekly or monthly basis at the discretion of the college authorities. The verification of attendance of ESF trainees is essentially a matter for the college authorities. I would point out, however, that deductions are made from the training grant in respect of all absences from lectures. I do not consider that any further specification by the Minister for Education in relation to these matters is necessary at the present time.
518.
asked the Minister for Education the amount of money that was allocated by the EEC for European Social Fund grants in 1982 and 1983; and the actual amount of money paid from the Social Fund in grants in 1982 and 1983.
It is assumed that the Deputy's question refers to grants from the European Social Fund for my Department's middle-level technician training programme in the regional technical colleges and colleges of technology. This programme is operated on an academic year basis and the amounts related to the trainee support grants element of the programme in 1981-82 and 1982-83 are as follows:
|
Year |
Aid Allocated |
Aid Approved |
|
1981-82 |
£1,571,680 |
£1,457,580 |
|
1982-83 |
£1,858,191 |
£1,664,113 (est.) |