asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the fact that qualifying third level students obtain a grant of £1,200 if they live 15 miles or more away from the third level institution and only £500 if they are below 15 miles, she will consider the introduction of a graded system through which those marginally below the 15 mile limit would qualify for a higher grant and thus remove the major anomaly in the system which exists at present.
Written Answers. - Education Grants.
96.
The lower (adjacent) and higher (non-adjacent) rates of maintenance payable under the higher education grants scheme are £525 and £1,318 respectively. Full lecture fee is also payable in each case in addition to these amounts.
The lower rate of maintenance is payable in the case of a candidate whose normal family residence is within 15 miles of the university or other institution of higher education at which he/she is attending or who could reasonably be expected, in the light of distance and local public transport services, to travel daily between his/her normal family residence and such university or other institution of higher education. The higher rate of maintenance is payable in other cases.
I have no plans at the moment to modify the higher education grants scheme which regulates the circumstances in which the lower and higher rates of maintenance may be paid to an eligible student.