Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

We had a very good exchange of views at the Aontas lobby for learning seminar last Friday on this issue of the payment of the back to education allowance and the maintenance grant. This must be seen as a duplication of income support payments. It must also be seen in the context of the reduction in the rates of social welfare introduced in budget 2010 last December.

I undertook to clarify certain issues in that regard and I know there is a later parliamentary question on this, although I do not know if we will reach it. Some of the students present were not sure whether they would continue on the same course or whether they would go on to a new course. As the Deputy knows, if one continues on the same course, there is no change for existing students. I intend to clarify that, especially in view of the particular circumstances of the students who raised their situations with me.

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