Michael Bell
Ceist:58 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education and Science the action he has taken to date on foot of the report of the action group on access to third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28222/01]
Written Answers. - Third Level Education.
The Government has provided £95 million under the national development plan for a third level access fund to tackle disadvantage at third level. Last July I launched the report on access to third level education prepared by the group, which I set up in September 2000 to advise me on the development of a co-ordinated strategy to increase participation of disadvantaged students, mature students and students with a disability at third level.
The report is a landmark document which contains 78 recommendations. Responsibility for implementation of many of these recommendations lies with my Department. Some recommendations require action on the part of other Government Departments and their views on the relevant recommendations have been requested. On a wider level, the recommendations call for action on the part of third level institutions, schools and community and voluntary groups. My Department has, to date, initiated a number of measures aimed at implementing some of the main recommendations in the report.
At the launch of the action group in September 2000, I announced as an initial step, pending the findings of the group, the introduction of special rates of maintenance grant payable to disadvantaged grant holders in 2001. Recommendations relating to the criteria for the special rates of grant are set out in the action group's report and approval for payment of the special rates have issued to the local authorities-VECs. The special rates, effective from the 2000-01 academic year, are £3,000 for students residing over 15 miles from the college attended and £1,200 for students residing less than 15 miles from the college attended. The local authorities and the vocational educational committees, which administer the standard maintenance grant schemes, assess candidates for the special rates of maintenance grants also.
In September 2000 I also announced a millennium partnership fund for disadvantage with a provision of £1 million in 2001. The fund is intended to build on the experience of the support scheme for students from disadvantaged families, operated by the Northside Partnership, which assists students to participate in higher education. The action group's report sets out detailed recommendations on the criteria which should apply in the disbursement of the fund. Area Development Management Limited, under whose aegis the partnerships operate, has accepted my Department's request that it would administer the fund for the 2001-02 academic year. Guidelines have issued to the partnerships and completed applications were to be returned to ADM Limited by 12 November. Arrangements for assessing the applications, with the aim of disbursing the funding, are now well advanced. I am committed to progressing implementation of the group's recommendations as resources permit.