Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 12, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: “ “Act of 2011” means the Student Support Act 2011;”.

All of the amendments in this grouping are in my name. Amendment No. 4 is a technical amendment to the interpretation of the Student Support Act 2011 into the Bill.

Amendment No. 132 provides the Minister with the power to assist with the administration of bursaries and scholarships for the purpose of assisting students to pursue approved courses at approved institutions.

Amendments Nos. 133 to 136 amend the Student Support Act 2011 to provide that an awarding authority, Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, may assist in the administration of scholarships and bursaries to facilitate persons from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue approved courses at approved institutions. These amendments include amendments to the Student Support Act 2011 to provide the awarding authority with the powers to process data for the awarding of scholarships and bursaries. In basic English, with the establishment of my Department it was important that we used this legislation to provide an opportunity to ensure we can continue to support scholarships and bursaries and to empower SUSI to assist in the administration of such. That is effectively what these amendments are doing.

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