Edward Nealon
Ceist:195 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the opposition by vocational education committees to the proposal to have third level student support schemes administered by a central agency in view of the fact that the schemes are now being administered effectively and sympathetically at local level and to the fact that at local level the knowledge and expertise of public representatives and school staff can be availed of in appropriate cases, that students and parents find it valuable that they can establish direct contact with appropriate officials in their own local towns at present and that difficulties might be created for them in a centralised system, that many grant applications received by vocational education committees are not fully completed and that the vocational education committees have a positive record in assisting and supporting grant applicants, that this proposal represents a major erosion of the powers of vocational education committees and also serious implications for the jobs of dedicated administrative staff throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
