Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and that is a positive reply. It is good to hear that the targets are being met and are being exceeded. I agree with him that the outcomes are completely crucial to this. I know of a cohort of students who recently completed a programme in the new Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest.

It has been absolutely fantastic. An element of equity in accessing education is the hardship fund provided at third level. Officially it is known as the student assistance fund. In the past academic year €18.5 million was allocated to it. There is no commonality in how it is disbursed, how people apply for it and when they apply. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul contacted me because its education officer is unable to properly advise people going into the scheme how to avail of it. There seems to be a lack of commonality. I have tried to elicit that information through parliamentary questions but it would be very useful if the Department could detail in tabular format for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul how so much public money can be properly disbursed and how it can advise people going into third level education how to avail of it.

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