Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Jun 1991

Vol. 409 No. 4

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grant Payments.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

239 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to any cases where local authority withheld or delayed payment, under section 7 of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) (No. 2) Act, 1983, of grant aid from her Department to qualifying third level students; if she will outline her views on this procedure; if she has issued, or proposes to issue directions to all local authorities concerning this unfair practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The position is that the administration of the higher education grants scheme is statutorily entrusted to local authorities and details of particular cases would not normally be available in my Department. It is understood that the Local Government Financial Provisions (No. 2) Act, 1983 provides a local authority with the power to set off amounts owing by it to a person against amounts due by that person to the authority in respect of a charge.