Chris Andrews (Dublin South East, Fianna Fail)

I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on the Student Support Bill 2008. As the Minister of State has heard from previous speakers, this Bill is broadly welcomed. I also welcome it. It will streamline the student grant scheme by providing a statutory framework for the replacement of four different schemes operated by local authorities and VECs with one unified system. Having previously been a member of the CDVEC, which is based in Ballsbridge, I know from personal experience that the VECs are particularly efficient and professional organisations in the provision of education services. The Acting Chairman, Deputy O'Connor, was a member of County Dublin VEC from 1985 to 1991, representing the Tallaght area, and he too speaks highly of the contribution made by VECs. The VECs have been flexible in the way in which they have managed to change the courses and services they provide to young people in third level education. They have met the needs of business and society.

This Bill will reduce the number of grant-awarding authorities from 66 to 33. As somebody who becomes annoyed when I see the number of administrative bodies being increased, I am pleased to see the reverse occurring. This will leave VECs as the sole arbiter of grant allocation. The move has been welcomed by the Union of Students in Ireland and Aontas, the adult education group. In some respects, this is a housekeeping Bill that aims to tidy up the current administrative system. However, it does also make some significant changes, one of which is an independent appeals board, which will reduce the number of fraudulent claims. It also provides a new residence requirement of three years rather than one year, which will bring Ireland into line with other EU member states.

The Bill is important because it shows the Government is committed to improving and providing education. It cares about equality of access to education. Education has always been important and will become even more so in the event of a slowdown in the economy. Education and human capital have been and will continue to be the linchpin of our economy. We have experienced unprecedented economic growth over the last 15 years. This has been led by the human capital of which I speak, although of course we also had a well managed fiscal regime and an economic environment which was conducive to foreign investment. However, our well educated people have always been the cornerstone of the success of our economy. Nobody would deny that the high level of education within the Irish workforce was central to the economic boom. Not only can high-tech firms base themselves here, but we also have the requisite educational assets to support such foreign and indigenous industries.

It is vital that we continue to support and administer third level education in the best manner possible. It is all about people forming and shaping the backbone of our economy. In light of a possible slowdown in our economy people will become much more important. It is important to educate and upskill our workforce, particularly people in areas such as those represented by the Acting Chairman in Tallaght, and in Ringsend and Pearse Street in my constituency. It has been difficult to get people to move from work to education. Employment is the best social inclusion measure but to go beyond that we must ensure that people from disadvantaged areas build on the opportunity to take up education.

Deputy Quinn mentioned that it is a long way from Ringsend and Pearse Street to college. In some ways it is further from Ringsend and Pearse Street than from Sligo or Roscommon because it is difficult to break down mindsets. Community leaders work hard to break that mindset where people see education and college as a distant dream. This Bill will address and change this. The change in the income limits will assist in changing the mindset.

Society is judged by how it looks after its weakest members. No one in this country should be prohibited from attending third level education and obtaining skills and experience that are ultimately returned to society. It is a cliché to state that we are investing in our future when we educate people.

Any move towards simplifying the grants system is welcome, particularly for mature students who deserve a second chance at education. When people return to college after a few years working it can be difficult. They may have children and they may need to be supported. My wife returned to third level education when we had two very young children. It required a major effort on her behalf. Any measure that helps to attract people to upskilling and education must be applauded and the Government is to be applauded for doing so through this Bill.

A recent report by the library and research service in the Oireachtas indicated that this Bill would have a positive impact on national competitiveness: "Those students who are supported will contribute to the intellectual capital of the State, and thereby improve the national competitiveness of the country by contributing to the further development of a knowledge based economy."

There are approximately 150,000 students in third level and 57,000 are in receipt of grants. That is a high number, one I hope will continue to grow. We need to encourage and promote people from inner city areas to enter education. If we are to compete on the international stage it is vital that we ensure a vibrant third level education system. I therefore welcome this Bill which creates a single application process, improves access and promotes greater transparency.

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