Vol. 457 No. 7
192 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Education the concerns, if any, she has about delays by local authorities, particularly Dublin Corporation, in making initial payments of higher education grants; the plans, if any, she proposes to take to improve this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15951/95]
Local authorities are statutorily entrusted with the administration of the higher education grants scheme.
I would be anxious that student grants be issued as promptly as possible. In 1994 and 1995 I ensured that the student support schemes were issued to the local authorities by my Department at end-April-early May to facilitate local authorities in processing grant applications earlier in the year than was previously possible.
