Seán Crowe
Ceist:19 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the progress made on implementing the 78 recommendations in the action group report on access to third level education. [5815/03]
Vol. 562 No. 3
19 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the progress made on implementing the 78 recommendations in the action group report on access to third level education. [5815/03]
85 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Science the recommendations made in the report of the action group on access to third level education that have been implemented; the recommendations which have still to be implemented; if a timetable has been set for the implementation of the outstanding recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5829/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 85 together.
There is a provision within the national development plan for a third level access fund totalling almost €121 million, over the period 2000 to 2006, to tackle disadvantage at third level. In line with a commitment under the programme for prosperity and fairness, my predecessor, Deputy Woods, established the action group on access to third level education to advise on the development of a co-ordinated strategy to increase participation of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, mature students and students with a disability at third level. The action group's report was published in July 2001.
Responsibility for implementation of many of these recommendations lies with my Department. Some recommendations require action on the part of other Government Departments. On a wider level, the recommendations call for action on the part of third level institutions, schools and community and voluntary groups. To date a number of measures have been taken by my Department in response to the main recommendations in the report.
The most significant spending recommendation of that group concerned the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students, commonly referred to as top-up grants. These recommendations were introduced, with retrospective effect, from the 2000-01 academic year.
Following a recent review, I increased the annual income threshold for the special rates by 32%. For 2002-03, I also increased the special rate of grant to €4,000 for students residing more than 15 miles from college and €1,600 for students residing within 15 miles of college. This is equivalent to a "top-up" of €1,490 and €596 respectively, for eligible students, on the ordinary maintenance grant. As a result of the review, it is expected that the number of students qualifying for the "top-up" grant in 2002-03 will double to 7,000 students.