Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

The passage of the Student Support Bill will facilitate progress on the two significant pillars of an overall programme of legislative and administrative reform of student grants, the development of a single unified grants scheme and the consolidation of the administration of student grants within the VEC sector. Amendments to the Student Support Bill are at the final stages of preparation and the Department is working closely with the Office of the Attorney General to finalise any outstanding matters.

The introduction of the new administrative arrangements will have to be considered in the current and prospective economic and budgetary context. The situation is being kept under continuous review in the context of progression of the legislation, the availability of resources and emerging developments in transforming public services.

The Department is continuing to work closely with the IVEA and other relevant stakeholders to develop the new administrative structures required to support the efficient delivery of the new unified grants scheme. A fundamental review of the entire business process is well under way, with a view to ensuring consistency of application and a more streamlined and effective service for students. This includes matters relating to application, assessment and payments arrangements.

Significant progress has been made on a number of these issues. Where there are opportunities for the introduction of early service level improvement, the Department has endeavoured to work closely with the relevant stakeholders to make improvements in the shortest possible timeframe within the existing arrangements. These include the introduction of a downloadable version of the application form and guidance notes for the first time in 2009 and the commencement of a test phase which will provide for maintenance grant payment by electronic funds transfer to a limited number of students for the forthcoming academic year.

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