Vol. 487 No. 2
15 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Education and Science the criteria for inclusion as an approved institution under the higher education grants scheme; if he will approve the Irish School of Ecumenics, in view of the important work done by the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3496/98]
39 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has for making the courses provided by the Irish School of Ecumenics eligible for grant assistance under the higher education grants scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3605/98]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 15 and 39 together.
The higher education grants scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. An approved institution is defined to mean a university, university college or other institution of higher education in so far as it provides a course or courses of not less than two years duration, being a course or courses of which the Minister for Education and Science approves for the time being for the purposes of the Acts.
The annual higher education grants scheme which I approve sets out a list of approved institutions for the purposes of the scheme. The approved institutions mainly comprise the publicly funded third level institutions. However, there are a number of religious and other institutions that have been admitted to the scheme over the years.
The scope of the higher education grants scheme was addressed in the report of the advisory committee on third level student support, which was chaired by Dr. Donal de Buitléir and published in February 1995. That report recommended the inclusion of full-time courses pursued in private colleges which are NCEA validated within the scope of the scheme.
