Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 26 Oct 2000

Vol. 525 No. 1

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

183 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review current departmental policy whereby a student is refused a full maintenance grant if they reside within 15 miles of the third level institution even though they are not residing at home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23708/00]

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

184 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will elaborate on the interpretation of his Department of clause five of the higher education grant scheme as outlined in correspondence to him (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23709/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together.

Under the terms of clause 5 of the higher education grants scheme, maintenance grants are payable to eligible students at either the adjacent or the non-adjacent rate. Except in the case of mature students, the adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable where the grant holder's normal residence is 15 miles or less from the college being attended. The non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in all other cases.

Prior to 1995, students who were residing more than 15 miles from the college and who could reasonably be expected to travel to college each day, having regard to the journey and available transport, were only entitled to the adjacent rate of maintenance grant. The schemes of third level student support, since 1995, provide that the non-adjacent rate would be payable in all circumstances where the student resides more than 15 miles from the college.

In any such grant scheme terms and conditions have, of necessity, to be introduced and it is considered that the 15 mile adjacency condition is a fair and reasonable one. Any proposal to pay all grant holders at the higher, non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant would have significant cost implications and would have to have regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands in the education sector.

Some 40% of third level students qualify for maintenance grants. The need to target resources at those most in need is well recognised and underpins our 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, aimed at tackling under-representation by students from disadvantaged backgrounds, mature students and students with disabilities.

I recently established an action group on access to third level education with the aim of tackling under representation of disadvantaged students. This group will advise me on the development of a co-ordinated framework to promote participation at third level by such students. I have asked the group to provide a report to me within three months.

As an indication of the Government's support in promoting equity in access and as a purely initial step, pending the findings of the group, I have announced the introduction of a special maintenance grant payable to disadvantaged grant holders, targeted at those most in need. The full rates of the special maintenance grant entail increases over the standard rates as follows: 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.