Vol. 574 No. 2
135 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the serious problems created for third level students by delays in the payment of maintenance grants; the steps being taken to address these delays and ensure that all grants are paid on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26497/03]
The statutory framework for the higher education maintenance grants scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts 1968 to 1992 provides for means-tested higher education grants to assist students to attend full-time third level education. The third level maintenance grant schemes, which my Department revises annually, are administered by the local authorities and vocational education committees.
The arrangement for the payment of grants under the student support schemes is a matter for the local authorities and vocational education committees. The terms of the higher education grants scheme and the VEC scholarship scheme for the 2003-04 academic year provide that the local authorities and vocational education committees shall pay the maintenance grant in three equal instalments as early as possible in each term and the individual payable orders shall be addressed to the grant holder care of the bursar's office of the college.
A survey of the 66 local authorities and vocational education committees in the current academic year indicates that 63 have paid the first instalment of the grant, with the exception of some cases where they are awaiting further information from applicants or where late applications were accepted. The remaining awarding bodies expect to make payments shortly.
