Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Oct 2003

Vol. 571 No. 3

Written Answers. - Student Support Schemes.

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

66 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department has completed its review of student support provisions at third level; if it is intended to publish the findings of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21503/03]

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

71 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the report, Supporting Equity in Higher Education; if it is intended to implement the recommendations made in the report; the proposals he has to review the means test for third level grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21497/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 71 together.

As the Deputies will be aware, the report, which was published in August 2003, was the outcome of a review of student support arrangements, undertaken, at my request, within my Department with the objective of ensuring that the benefits of the substantial investment being made in this area were maximised. It was also designed to provide options, for my consideration, in order to promote greater equity in access to, and participation in, higher education.

The Deputies will be aware that I announced, on 25 May 2003, a €42 million support package for disadvantaged students in higher education. In constructing this package of measures, I had regard to the various policy options outlined in chapter four of the report which were developed on the basis of their potential to improve equity of access to higher education.

I agree with the report's recognition that young people from lower-income families face social, cultural, educational and financial barriers to participation in higher education and share the report's conclusion that some of these barriers must be addressed in families, schools, communities and in the higher education institutions themselves. The need for an integrated cross-cutting approach is self-evident and is central to my approach to addressing the problems of education disadvantage at all levels and this is reflected in the various initiatives which I have taken since assuming office in mid-2002.

In so far as the issue of reviewing the means test for third-level grants is concerned, the Deputies will be aware that the recent report identified the fairness of the means assessment on which student support is based as being a vitally important issue in promoting equity. It noted that the current system concluded that the introduction of a capital test would remove a significant perceived inequity in the system. The report also concluded, in this context, that the administration of the student support schemes needs to be reformed. In accordance with our commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government, it is my intention to introduce a unified scheme. I also propose to put in place a more coherent admin istration system which will, I believe, facilitate the introduction of more sophisticated means testing arrangements and ensure consistency of application and client accessibility as suggested in the report. I have asked my Department to enter into consultations in this regard with the key stakeholders and I expect such consultations to commence in the near future.