Dáil debates
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Other Questions
Higher Education Grants.
Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 8: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position on proposals to combine the administration of the third level maintenance grants under the aegis of one body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26467/09]
Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The passage of the Student Support Bill will facilitate progress on the two significant pillars of an overall programme of legislative and administrative reform of student grants, the development of a single unified grants scheme and the consolidation of the administration of student grants within the VEC sector. Amendments to the Student Support Bill are at the final stages of preparation and the Department is working closely with the Office of the Attorney General to finalise any outstanding matters.
The introduction of the new administrative arrangements will have to be considered in the current and prospective economic and budgetary context. The situation is being kept under continuous review in the context of progression of the legislation, the availability of resources and emerging developments in transforming public services.
The Department is continuing to work closely with the IVEA and other relevant stakeholders to develop the new administrative structures required to support the efficient delivery of the new unified grants scheme. A fundamental review of the entire business process is well under way, with a view to ensuring consistency of application and a more streamlined and effective service for students. This includes matters relating to application, assessment and payments arrangements.
Significant progress has been made on a number of these issues. Where there are opportunities for the introduction of early service level improvement, the Department has endeavoured to work closely with the relevant stakeholders to make improvements in the shortest possible timeframe within the existing arrangements. These include the introduction of a downloadable version of the application form and guidance notes for the first time in 2009 and the commencement of a test phase which will provide for maintenance grant payment by electronic funds transfer to a limited number of students for the forthcoming academic year.
Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Forgive me for thinking the Student Support Bill was introduced by the Government and that Second Stage was concluded a year ago. When will Committee Stage of the Bill be taken, given that before the last general election, the then Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, issued five specific press statements to the effect that from September 2009 we would have the new, unified system operational in every local authority?
Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The hope is we will have it ready for the autumn and be ready to present it then.
Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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After the Lisbon treaty referendum.
Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State said a number of amendments were still being worked on in the Attorney General's office, which was not known when Second Stage was concluded. How many amendments are we talking about? I understood there was general support in the House for the Bill on Second Stage and that there were no outstanding legislative difficulties. What is causing the delay? Is the delay in the Department or elsewhere?
Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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One of the legal considerations for the Attorney General concerns the introduction of grant support for part-time courses. The economic circumstances are not exactly benign for the prospects of funding short-time or part-time courses but it is hoped that an enabling amendment will be added to the Bill to facilitate that in the future when resources become available.
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Does the Minister of State really believe that?
Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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He is working on it.
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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He must think we are eejits.
Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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We may have to go back to Cabinet on these matters.
Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Is the Minister aware that many students have not yet been paid their grants for the last academic year? Local authorities have been short-changed by the Department in respect of money to pay the grants.
Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The academic year is over and the grants have not been received. Can the Minister justify such a situation?
Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is a great source of disappointment to me that people are still waiting for their payments from a public service organisation. If the Deputy has details about the circumstances we would be delighted to see them so that we can determine why a blockage has occurred. The purpose of this Bill is to transfer these matters to the VEC sector.
Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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They are already in the Department.
Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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It will involve streamlining and produce greater efficiency in the scheme. We also hope we will be able to electronically transfer some of the funds.
Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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In what year does the Minister propose to put in place this new, streamlined system?
Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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If we are introducing the Bill in the autumn we would hope to have it in place in the years ahead. Again, it will be subject to the resources available to the Department.
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Full marks to the Minister of State for doing his homework.
Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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We are facing into a difficult period of Exchequer retrenchment so I will not commit to any particular timeframe.