Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
Jack Wall
Ceist:
1079
Mr. Wall
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if he will investigate the problems created for families who do not qualify for maintenance grants to send their children to third level education; the plans he has to extend the limits of such grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20527/00]
The statutory framework for the maintenance grants scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992, provides for means-tested higher education grants in order to assist students to attend full-time third level education.
The practice in recent years has been to increase, annually, third level maintenance grants in line with inflation and to increase the reckonable income limits in line with movements in the average industrial wage. In line with this policy, I announced increases of 5% in the maintenance grant and of 5% in the income limits to qualify for a grant, for the 2000/01 academic year.
The reckonable income limit for a full maintenance grant under the student support schemes for the 2000/2001 academic year is £20,200. Candidates who do not qualify for a full maintenance grant may qualify for a part-maintenance grant (50%) in respect of which the income limit is £21,400. Where two or more children (or the candidate's parent) are attending full-time approved third level courses the above income limits may be increased by £2,270 where there are two such children, by £4,540 for three such children and so on, by increments of £2,270.
In addition to the maintenance grants scheme and the free fees initiative, under which my Department meets the cost of tuition fees for eligible undergraduate students in approved institutions, support is also available to students through my Department's student assistance/access fund. The objectives of the fund are to assist students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise, due to their financial circumstances, be unable to continue their third level studies. The fund is administered by the third level institutions and provides direct financial support to disadvantaged students to assist them to remain on in college to complete their studies. I have increased the provision for this fund from £1.296 million in 1999 to £1.8 million in 2000.
For students who do not qualify for free tuition fees under the free fees initiative, certain tax reliefs are available for fees paid for third level education.
Some 40% of third level students qualify for maintenance grants. The question of further raising the reckonable income limits could only be considered having regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands in the education sector. In this respect, the need for a special enhanced level of maintenance grant for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, well targeted at those most in need has been highlighted in a number of reports, most recently in the Osborne report, Evaluation of the Targeted Initiative on Widening Access for Young People from Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Backgrounds, published by the Higher Education Authority on 21 September 2000.
The need to target resources at those most in need is well recognised and underpins this Government's approach to tackling disadvantage. In this regard there is provision within the national development plan for a third level access fund totalling £95 million over the period of the plan. This fund will provide for additional financial support for disadvantaged students on top of the existing maintenance grants schemes. The objective of this measure is to facilitate and improve access to the labour market for the beneficiaries whilst improving their long-term employability through enhancing their educational qualifications.
I recently announced the setting up of an action group on access to third level education, in line with a commitment in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, with the aim of tackling under-representation of disadvantaged students in third level education. This action group will advise me on the development of a co-ordinated framework to promote participation at third level by students in three disadvantaged groups – students with disabilities, students from disadvantaged backgrounds and mature ‘second chance' students.
As an indication of the Government's support for promoting equity in access, and as a purely initial step pending the findings of the action group, I announced on 14 September 2000 the introduction of a special maintenance grant payable to disadvantaged grant holders, targeted at those most in need. The full rate of maintenance grant will increase from £1,775 to £2,000 for students residing more than 15 miles from college; and from £710 to £1,000 for students resident within 15 miles of college.
Tentative indications are that in the region of 10,000 students may benefit from this measure.
The action group will provide a report to me within three months, advising on the specific interventions we can make, which will be most effective in achieving our objectives in the area of disadvantage.
