Trevor Sargent
Ceist:133 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education the strategy she intends to pursue in order to secure grants from tardy county councils (details supplied) some of whom had not paid up to Hallowe'en this semester. [18798/95]
Written Answers. - Education Grants.
Arrangements for payment of maintenance grants are a matter for the local authorities as under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act 1968 they are the bodies statutorily entrusted with the administration of the higher education grants scheme. Where the Deputy is aware of specific incidents of delay in payment of grants he should refer them to the relevant local authority.
To facilitate local authorities in the early processing of grants my Department has in recent years issued the specimen student support schemes to local authorities-vocational education committees at the end of April or early May.
I understand that the local authorities indicated by the Deputy have all paid the first instalment of the maintenance grant for the 1995-96 academic year. It is also understood that in cases where a grant is not yet paid, the local authority is awaiting further information from the applicant.