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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Student Support Schemes.

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

343 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the areas in which the money spent on student support services is spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19850/02]

I have set out, for the Deputy's information, the schemes and measures available to assist students in third level and further education, which come under the heading of student support services funded by my Department.

They are: the free fees initiative, under which the cost of undergraduate tuition fees in respect of eligible students attending approved courses is met and the four maintenance grants schemes; the higher education grants scheme; the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme; the third level maintenance grant scheme for trainees and the maintenance grants scheme for students attending post leaving certificate courses. Under the four maintenance grants schemes, funding is awarded to eligible students towards the cost of maintenance, tuition fees and the charge for student services, registration and examinations.

There are also three Irish scholarship schemes: the scheme of third level scholarships for students from the Gaeltacht; the scheme of third level scholarships, (through Irish: restricted); and the scheme of Irish third level scholarships, (unrestricted). Scholarships are awarded to successful candidates in respect of fees and maintenance for approved third level courses. A further scheme is the Easter week commemoration scholarship scheme. Winners of Easter week commemoration scholarships are funded in respect of fees and maintenance for approved third level courses.

In addition to the above schemes, there are a range of measures funded by my Department aimed at promoting access to further and higher education by students from disadvantaged backgrounds, students with disabilities and mature "second chance" students.

The special rates of maintenance grant, usually referred to as "top-up" grants, payable to disadvantaged grant holders, were introduced with effect from the 2000-01 academic year. A new millennium partnership fund for disadvantage was introduced in 2001. The fund provides assistance to partnership companies and community groups to develop their support schemes for students from disadvantaged families.
The student assistance-access fund makes available financial support to students, in approved third level institutions. The objective of the fund is to assist students who might, due to their financial circumstances, be unable to continue their third level studies. The fund is administered on a discretionary basis by each third level institution and provides direct financial support to disadvantaged students to assist them to remain on in college.
The fund for students with disabilities provides grants towards the provision of services and the purchase of equipment for students with disabilities attending courses in third level institutions or post leaving certificate courses. The scheme applies to students who have serious sensory, physical and-or communicative disabilities, including dyslexia.
Questions Nos. 344 and 345 answered with Question No. 326.
Question No. 346 answered with Question No. 333.
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