Jim Higgins
Ceist:142 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education when the report from the interdepartmental review body on third level grants will be completed; and if she intends to publish the report.
Written Answers. - Third Level Grants.
Enda Kenny
Ceist:145 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education if she has received a request from Mayo County Council Higher Education Grants Advisory Sub-Committee to meet with a deputation from Mayo County Council to discuss anomalies in the higher education grants scheme; if she will meet with this deputation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 145 together.
I have received representations from a number of local authorities, including Mayo County Council, about various difficulties with the higher education grants scheme.
As I have recently stated in answer to other related questions, the Government in their recently published programme are committed to bringing forward proposals for the reform of the third level grants scheme and for amending the scheme in a number of areas. The programme also includes a commitment to ensure complete equity and transparency in its operations, taking into account the question of criteria for the inclusion of wealth/assets in determining income/ eligibility for all State supported schemes where means is a condition of eligibility. The matter is being examined at present by my Department.
The interdepartmental committee report referred to by the Deputy related specifically to the higher education grants scheme and has, of course, been overtaken by the more wide-ranging commitment in the recently agreed Programme for Government.