Vol. 529 No. 3
149 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the current level of higher education grant; his further views on its application to post graduate students pursuing further qualifications; and if he will consider a specific and focused increase in the higher education grant which would reflect the amount of time and commitment given by them in pursuing their post graduate qualifications. [2819/01]
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.
I announced late last year 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. I will consider the appropriate response when I receive the team's report.
Students studying at postgraduate level may apply for financial assistance under the terms of the higher education grants scheme or, if appropriate, the Vocational Education Committees' scholarship scheme. For 2000-01 the non-adjacent and adjacent rates of maintenance grant are £1,775 and £887 respectively. A postgraduate grantholder is also eligible to have his or her fees paid up to a maximum amount of £3,064.
