Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is probably aware, in budget 2010 the previous Government amended the eligibility criteria for receipt of the student maintenance grant for individuals in receipt of either the back to education allowance or the vocational training opportunities scheme allowances. As a result of that amendment, individuals who were in receipt of the back to education allowance for all schemes or the VTOS allowances for a post-leaving certificate course, for example, became ineligible for receipt of the student maintenance grant. However, the student service charge, as well as any fee payable to third level colleges, have continued to be met by the Exchequer on their behalf. This change has applied to all new student grant holders from the 2010-11 academic year onwards.

Discussions are under way between my officials and those of the Department of Education and Skills and SUSI. Obviously, the details of student grants and maintenance support payments and so on are a matter for SUSI. We are in discussions with the authority and will come back in due course when we have concluded them. My absolute desire is to see as many lone parents as possible availing of an education. The grant supports, together with the lone parent payments, are important and represent significant financial support for lone parents, in particular, the many lone parents who are really successful when they return to education and attain qualifications.

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