Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I addressed the issue earlier. The effect of the amendment is to extend eligibility of the fund to the children and grandchildren of former residents. It will also include employment opportunities. It remains the Government's position that eligibility for the new fund should be confined to former residents. The Education Finance Board did excellent work in terms of distributing the money that came from the religious congregations under the 2002 indemnity agreement. Former residents and their relatives benefited from the support. It was always clear that the fund would run out of money given that a specific amount was provided to it and it is now virtually exhausted. It remains the function of the Education Finance Board to manage the funds at its disposal. The board has been closely monitoring the funding available to it in the past 12 months. Last year it advised me that it expected its remaining funds would be fully allocated on applications it received by November last year. It is a matter for the Education Finance Board to plan properly for the orderly wind down and to inform applicants of the facts regarding the funding available to it. I understand this has been done.

I appreciate that the Education Finance Board will not be in a position to support some individuals but it was never the intention that the board would have an open-ended mandate. While I appreciate the concerns expressed, it is open to any individual to apply for maintenance and college fee grants through the student grant scheme. Some 42% of students in undergraduate programmes in our third level system are in receipt of such support. The Education Finance Board has made a significant difference to many former residents and their relatives. The Government is now focused on meeting the needs of former residents across a range of service areas. Having regard to the available moneys and the potential numbers eligible to apply, it must confine itself to the eligible former residents if it is to do this effectively. I cannot accept these amendments and I reiterate my commitment to reviewing the operation of the fund following a period of two years after its establishment.

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