Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 1990

Vol. 399 No. 10

Written Answers. - European Social Fund Grants.

William Cotter

Ceist:

145 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Education if she will give details of the application of the European Social Fund grants to students attending courses at regional technical colleges; whether all colleges are interpreting the regulations in the same way; the restrictions which apply to students living more than 15 miles from the college, which prevents them from availing of their entitlement to the higher grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The ESF training grants scheme covers a series of full-time vocational training courses of up to three years duration in regional technical colleges and colleges of technology. Trainees are entitled to tuition fee remission and a monthly maintenance allowance currently valued at £525 or £1,318 per annum depending on whether or not they must reside away from home in a college town.

Regulations governing the scheme are issued annually to the college authorities who are responsible for its administration and my Department is satisfied that the regulations are being applied uniformly in all colleges.

The regulations stipulate,inter alia, that “the lower rate of grant shall be applied in the case of every trainee (a) whose home is within 15 miles of the college at which he/she is pursuing his/her training course (b) who travels, or could reasonably be expected to travel, daily between his/her home and the college”. They further stipulate that “the higher rate of grant therefore may be paid only to those not covered by (a) and (b) above who are obliged to stay overnight in a college town for the purpose of attending a training course”.