Vol. 428 No. 5
228 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the difficulty student parents have in getting third level education; and if she will ensure that child care accommodation is made available in third level colleges and universities.
With regard to student support I would like to refer the Deputy to the range of significant improvements which was introduced in 1992 to the Higher Education Grants Scheme. These improvements included special provisions for mature students and the exclusion of payments under the Lone Parent's Allowance Scheme from reckonable income for the purposes of the scheme.
On the question of child care facilities I understand from the Higher Education Authority that all the universities provide créche facilities. Furthermore the Dublin Institute of Technology has introduced a subsidy scheme for students using a créche.
In the Programme for a Partnership Government, the Government has indicated its intention, in the context of anticipated extra resources under the new Structural Funds to wider access of all students to third-level education. Against this background I will keep under ongoing review the need for further initiatives to improve access for students, in the context of the overall development needs of the sector.
