Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

The higher education grant scheme is administered by local authorities. There are three schemes administered by the vocational education committees. Under the terms of the maintenance grant schemes, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, means and previous academic attainment.

The back to education allowance is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to encourage and facilitate people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the workforce. Eligibility for the back to education allowance, BTEA, and associated payments is determined and administered by the Department of Social Protection and is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.

The Deputy will appreciate that, in the context of the current economic circumstances, difficult choices had to be made by the Government in order to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run. It was decided to discontinue the practice of allowing students to hold both the BTEA and a student maintenance grant simultaneously as this represents a duplication of income support payments. It was decided to discontinue the practice of allowing students to hold both the back-to-education allowance and a student maintenance grant simultaneously as this represents a duplication of income support payments.

From September 2010, as announced in the budget, all new applicants who are in receipt of the back-to-education allowance for all schemes, and the VTOS allowances for those pursuing PLC courses, will be ineligible for student maintenance grants. However, the cost of the student services charge and any fees payable to colleges will continue to be met, for eligible students, by the Exchequer on their behalf. Students should apply to their assessing authority to have their eligibility assessed.

As the Deputy will be aware, students currently in receipt of the back-to-education allowance are not automatically entitled to a maintenance grant. However, all students, currently in receipt of the back-to-education allowance or VTOS allowances and the maintenance grant will continue to be eligible for both payments for the duration of their current course provided that they continue to meet the terms and conditions of the schemes.

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