Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

The information may not be readily available now but can the Minister let me know as soon as possible when the scheme for 2011-12 will be published? I know from experience that the earlier it comes out the better in order to facilitate students and their parents. The Minister proposes to carry out a fundamental review of the entire student support grant scheme. When does he expect to have that review completed? According to comments attributed to the Minister in a radio interview, he indicated his concern that the scheme seemed to operate a bias in favour of farming families and self-employed persons. That view has created some concern, therefore, I would like him to deal with that issue and allay the concerns of such people in the community.

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