Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Feb 2003

Vol. 562 No. 3

Written Answers - Student Assistance Fund.

Jerry Cowley

Ceist:

118 Mr. Cowley asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason his Department has abolished the student access fund when students had been interviewed and assessed for placement; if a substitute will be provided for this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5941/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey): The hardship fund, which was established in 1994, is now known as the student assistance fund. This initiative is funded under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, with assistance from the European Social Fund.

The objective of the fund is to assist those students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might, due to their financial circumstances, be unable to continue their third level studies. The criteria for the fund confines eligibility to students participating on courses of not less than one year duration leading to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification.

The fund is devolved to the third level institutions. The allocation to the university sector is made through the Higher Education Authority, while the allocations to the institutes of technology and the teacher training colleges are made directly by the Department. These allocations are based on total undergraduate enrolments in the previous academic year.

The allocation under this fund in 2002, in respect of the 2002-03 academic year, was €8.935 million.