Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 28 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 6

Written Answers. - Student Support Schemes.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

390 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the financial support available to participants in third level courses who are unemployed or on some form of social welfare payments; if the financial support for such participants is given by his Department or by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs; and if, in view of the demand for such courses, he will establish a special fund for those who are on long-term unemployment and wish to participate. [27389/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The Department of Education and Science funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students, which are administered by the local authorities and vocational education committees.

Generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means and nationality.

Apart from the maintenance grants schemes and the free fees initiative, under which my Department meets the cost of tuition fees for eligible undergraduate students in approved institutions, financial support is also available to students through the 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 recently increased the provision for this fund from £1.296 million in 1999 to £1.8 million in 2000.

The funding provisions outlined above are available to those who are unemployed on the same conditions as apply to all candidates-students.

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.

The objective of this measure is to facilitate and improve access to the labour market for the beneficiaries whilst improving their long-term employability. In particular, it will meet the specific needs of students with disabilities in terms of equipment and support services; provide financial support to disadvantaged students by way of additional support to the existing maintenance grants scheme; develop outreach initiatives currently undertaken by a number of third level institutions which involve links with second level schools and community groups and are designed to both assist students to meet the points requirements for the standard CAO entry procedures and to provide complementary special entry arrangements; and expand the provision of particular services, such as counselling and mentoring services, to meet the needs of non-traditional students.

In the current year, total funding of £3.4 million is provided under this measure.

On 14 September 2000, I announced the creation of an action group on access to third level education to advise me on the development of a co-ordinated framework to promote access by students from disadvantaged backgrounds, mature students and students with disabilities to third level education, building on the experience of current initiatives, and to make findings and recommendations accordingly.

The group will provide a report to me within three months, advising on the specific interventions, which would be most effective in making further progress in achieving these objectives.

As an indication of the Government's support in promoting equity in access and as an initial step, pending the findings of the action 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.

The first instalment will be made to eligible students early in 2001.

I have indicated that I would expect that up to 10,000 students will benefit from this measure.

The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs administers a back to education allowance, which is available to eligible persons who have been in receipt of certain social welfare payments for at least six months, and who wish to pursue approved second or third level courses.