Vol. 487 No. 7
267 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason higher education grants paid to students in the United Kingdom are issued in sterling by some authorities and in punts by others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5251/98]
In 1996 the students support schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to undergraduate students pursuing approved third level courses in other EU member states. Prior to this, grants were only payable to students who were pursuing approved courses in Northern Ireland. In this context and following discussions with the local authorities regarding the necessary administrative arrangements, it was agreed that students pursuing approved courses in other EU member stares, including Northern Ireland, would be paid the value of the grant in the currency of the country in which they were studying and that the value of the maintenance grant to be paid in all circumstances would be the Irish value converted to the currency of the country in which the student is pursuing his/her course. Previously, students studying in Northern Ireland were paid the amount of the grant in sterling, without reference to exchange rates. Those students studying in Northern Ireland who were assessed under the student support schemes prior to 1996 continue to receive their grants in sterling, without reference to exchange rates. Students who commenced their studies from 1996 are paid under the revised arrangements.
A number of Deputies raised the possibility of individual local authorities operating different procedures and my Department wrote to all local authorities in December 1997 to remind them of the arrangements introduced with effect from 1996.
