Vol. 531 No. 2
197 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will have investigations made into impediments to mature students obtaining grant aid to continue their studies; if his attention has been drawn to the fact there are huge restrictions placed in the way of students going back to further education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5186/01]
The Department of Education and Sci ence 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. Students who are repeating a year at the same level are generally not eligible.
My Department meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending full-time undergraduate courses which must generally be of at least two years duration, at approved colleges.
However, since 1994 the higher education grants scheme and vocational education committees scholarship scheme have included a concession for "second chance" students returning to college after a break of at least five years having previously pursued, but not completed, a third level course. This concession allows such students to be funded again for periods of study at the same level. Prior to 1994, a student did not receive financial assistance until they had completed the equivalent amount of time spent on their original course, irrespective of the length of time, which had elapsed between the two periods of college attendance. There are similar arrangements applying for "second chance" students under the free fees initiative.
As part of a funding initiative at third level, the higher non-adjacent rate of grant is now being paid to all eligible mature students under the student support schemes with effect from the 1999-2000 academic year.
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 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.
