I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 60 together. There has been a significant increase in applications under the student support schemes this year due, inter alia, to the major improvements which I introduced — in particular increased income eligibility limits and the provision for mature students.
My Department anticipated this increase and organised a number of seminars and advisory sessions for the relevant personnel in the local authorities and the vocational education committees — the bodies entrusted with the administration of the schemes. These personnel were briefed on the 1992 schemes and a standard comprehensive application form was designed to expedite the processing of grant applications.
I am aware that the local authorities and vocational education committees are making every effort to ensure that grants are issued to eligible candidates at the earliest possible dates, which it is anticipated would not differ significantly from previous years.
Third-level student support schemes are subject to regular review and all matters relevant to their operation are being taken into account in the context of developing the 1993 schemes.