Vol. 502 No. 3
647 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the estimated average annual maintenance costs of a third level student; the amount of the current maintenance grant; and the proposals if any, he has to close the gap. [8299/99]
The statutory framework for the scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992, provides for higher education grants in order to assist students to attend full-time third level education. For the 1998-99 academic year, the rates of the maintenance grants payable are set out at £1,652, at the non-adjacent rate and £660, at the adjacent rate.
I intend, in the context of the annual review of the student support schemes, to continue with this practice and increase the reckonable income limits for the 1999 schemes in line with the relevant increase in the average industrial wage to March 1998. Having regard to the competing demands for the available resources, I have previously outlined my intention to tackle the anomalies within the schemes and target resources to those most in need as a first priority, rather than applying significant across the board increases to the income limits or the grant rates. In this regard, the Deputy will be interested to note that some 60 per cent of certificate and diploma students in the technological sector and 40 per cent of students in the university sector are eligible for maintenance grants.
