(Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Education if she has any plans to give Government education grants to students obtaining four As or more in the leaving certificate whose parents are over the limit but cannot afford to pay the cost of university fees.
Written Answers. - Government Education Grants.
51.
I am very conscious of the financial difficulties for some students in third level education and especially for students 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. Despite enormous pressures on exchequer resources, the financial provision of the higher education grants scheme and related student aid schemes have been improved each year since 1985 as follows: the income eligibility limits for, and maintenance element of, grants and scholarships have been increased in line with inflation and the lecture fee element of grants has been increased for each academic year in line with the increase in fees for that academic year.
I have no plans to give financial assistance to students whose parents' income exceeds the income eligibility limits set out in the higher education or related means tested schemes.
However, my Department do offer a small number of scholarships to students who achieve high grades in the leaving certificate examination. The schemes in question are as follows: university scholarships (An Gaeltacht, Trí Ghaeilge and Easter Week Commemoration — of which 15, 20 and seven respectively are offered annually). These are awarded on a competitive basis by reference to attainments in the leaving certificate examination. These scholarships are not means tested. Further details of these schemes may be obtained from my Department.
Furthermore, commencing this year in VEC third level colleges over 90 per cent of students are grant aided by the European Social Fund.