Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills.

I wish to thank the Deputy for giving me this opportunity to outline the position of the Department of Education and Skills in relation to changes announced in the budget in relation to student maintenance grants for those also availing of the back to education allowance scheme.

I am pleased to inform the House that the Department of Education and Skills funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. These are the higher education grants scheme, the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme, the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees and the maintenance grant scheme for students attending post leaving certificate courses.

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