Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 3

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

569 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway is not entitled to a higher rate of grant towards the cost of his education as a mature student at the Regional Technical College, Galway, where he is studying for a National Certificate in Manufacturing Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9825/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

Under the terms of the student support schemes, the rate of maintenance grant payable is determined by reference to the distance from the student's normal residence to the college which she or he is attending.

In the case of independent mature students, normal residence is defined as the address of the candidate while in attendance at college. If this address is 15 miles or less from the college which she or he is attending, the adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable. If the address is more than 15 miles from the college, the non-adjacent rate of grant is payable.

However, where an independent mature student can produce supporting evidence that she or he is maintaining a residence other than his or her address while attending college, it will be open to the awarding authority to regard that address at the candidate's normal residence.

I understand that the student referred to by the Deputy is residing within 15 miles of Galway Institute of Technology and he has therefore been awarded the adjacent rate of maintenance grant by City of Galway Vocational Education Committee. This is the maximum rate of grant payable to the student in question under the existing arrangements.

I previously indicated my concern about mature students generally and independent mature students in particular, with regard to the rate of grant payable in accordance with the provisions of the schemes. With effect from the coming academic year all eligible mature students will qualify for the higher non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant. This improvement is estimated to cost over £2.4 million over the next two years.