Vol. 528 No. 1
408 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will implement the recommendations of the report of the special project team and carry out a comprehensive review of every aspect of the third level maintenance grants for the 2001-02 academic year; when the special project term will be set up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29492/00]
In the present financial year expenditure on student support, including free fees, is expected to be about £250 million.
In view of the scale of expenditure involved and the representations being made by students and other groups, I announced, on 11 November, that I was setting up a special project team to carry out a comprehensive review of every aspect of the maintenance grants, and other student supports, to ensure their relevance to the needs of present day third level students. This review will include the level of grants, the methods by which they are paid, eligibility and income limits, accommodation needs, student support services, the most suitable paying agency, the provision of an appeals system, student loans and taxation measures. The project team is to report to me by the end of March 2001.
