asked the Minister for Education the steps, if any, she intends taking to increase the number of students from lower income families who attend third level education, particularly university.
Written Answers. - Third Level Education Access.
34.
I am very conscious of the financial difficulties for students in third level education from lower income families. To assist them in pursuing courses of third level education, there are a number of schemes operated by my Department under which grants and scholarships are made available to eligible students.
The higher education grants scheme is the appropriate scheme in the case of eligible students who enter on university courses.
Despite enormous pressures on Exchequer resources, the financial provisions of the higher education grants scheme, the VEC scholarship scheme and related student aid schemes will be improved in 1987 as follows:
(i) The income eligibility limits for, and maintenance element of, grants and scholarships will be increased in line with inflation (3.4 per cent) and
(ii) The lecture fee element of grants will be increased for the academic year 1987-88 in line with the increases in fees (6%) for that academic year.
The middle level technician training programme, supported by the European Social Fund, provides for 10,700 places in regional technical colleges and colleges of technology. Those participating in this programme are not required to pay fees and the maintenance allowances payable are £485 p.a. for those living at home while engaged in training or £1,312 p.a. for those living away from home.