Dáil debates
Tuesday, 30 June 2015
Other Questions
Student Support Schemes
3:45 pm
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source
From my Department's examination of the matter, there is no correlation between where a student is from and his or her likelihood of being awarded a grant. There are a variety of factors which impact on the number of student grant awards in any academic year. They include but are not limited to the number of applications; the numbers transitioning from second to third level; the number of mature students entering the system for the first time or re-entering after a break in study; increases in population in a particular age cohort or area, be it rural or urban; economic circumstances or developments in a particular area; the financial circumstances of individuals and their parents and increases in third level participation rates generally. The aim of the student maintenance grants scheme has always been to make a contribution to the cost of going to college; covering the full cost has never been a feasible option.
I realise from what the Deputy has said that his main problem is with the cost of accommodation. I answered a question on that matter earlier today, but I can contact the Deputy later about it. It is a particular problem in the Dublin area and to some extent in Galway also, but the Government is addressing it.
Table 1
| County | Total Awards 2011/12 | Total Awards 2012/13 | % Change 11/12 to 12/13 Total Awards | Total Awards 2013/14 | % Change 12/13 to 13/14 Total Awards | Total Awards 2014/15 | % Change 13/14 to 14/15 Total Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlow | 1,154 | 1,209 | 4.77% | 1,213 | -0.33% | 1,292 | 6.51% |
| Cavan | 1,714 | 1,579 | -7.88% | 1,527 | -3.29% | 1,624 | 6.35% |
| Clare | 2,538 | 2,543 | 0.20% | 2,522 | -0.83% | 2,542 | 0.79% |
| Cork | 7,846 | 8,310 | 5.91% | 8,515 | 2.47% | 8,975 | 5.40% |
| Donegal | 3,690 | 3,666 | -0.65% | 3,633 | -0.90% | 3,725 | 2.53% |
| Dublin | 13,284 | 14,029 | 11.05% | 14,665 | 4.53% | 15,369 | 4.80% |
| Galway | 4,453 | 5,719 | 4.19% | 5,569 | -2.62% | 5,523 | -0.83% |
| Kerry | 3,415 | 3,282 | -3.89% | 3,260 | -0.67% | 3,312 | 1.60% |
| Kildare | 2,884 | 3,046 | 5.62% | 3,121 | 2.46% | 3,285 | 5.25% |
| Kilkenny | 1,798 | 1,779 | -1.06% | 1,801 | 1.24% | 1,678 | -6.83% |
| Laois | 1,382 | 1,395 | 0.94% | 1,428 | 2.37% | 1,431 | 0.21% |
| Leitrim | 912 | 847 | -7.13% | 817 | -3.54% | 813 | -0.49% |
| Limerick | 3,351 | 3,588 | 7.07% | 3,789 | 5.60% | 3,618 | -4.51% |
| Longford | 916 | 887 | -3.17% | 886 | -0.11% | 938 | 5.87% |
| Louth | 2,451 | 2,466 | 0.61% | 2,583 | 4.74% | 2,750 | 6.47% |
| Mayo | 3,827 | 3,462 | -9.54% | 3,275 | -5.40% | 3,201 | -2.26% |
| Meath | 2,639 | 2,776 | 5.19% | 2,908 | 4.76% | 2,998 | 3.09% |
| Monaghan | 1,479 | 1,466 | -0.88% | 1,489 | 1.57% | 1,459 | -2.01% |
| Offaly | 1,457 | 1,463 | 0.41% | 1,493 | 2.05% | 1,554 | 4.09% |
| Roscommon | 1,526 | 1,621 | 6.23% | 1,509 | -6.91% | 1,507 | -0.13% |
| Sligo | 1,734 | 1,605 | -6.36% | 1,510 | -5.92% | 1,522 | 0.79% |
| Tipperary | 3,086 | 3,179 | 3.01% | 3,167 | -0.38% | 3,188 | 0.66% |
| Waterford | 2,236 | 2,285 | 2.19% | 2,344 | 2.58% | 2,407 | 2.69% |
| Westmeath | 1,975 | 1,875 | -5.06% | 1,845 | -1.60% | 1,957 | 6.07% |
| Wexford | 2,764 | 2,864 | 3.62% | 2,674 | -6.63% | 3,013 | 12.68% |
| Wicklow | 2,153 | 2,247 | 4.37% | 2,149 | -4.36% | 2,169 | 0.93% |
| Totals | 76,644 | 79,188 | 79,692* | 81,850* |
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