John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 7: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of mature students that will be impacted by the change to the student grant criteria; her views on whether this will act as an impediment to persons trying to upskill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47625/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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This question is similar to Question No. 5.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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We can take the answer as given.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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There is a slight difference in regard to mature students, which I will outline. The automatic eligibility of mature students to the higher non-adjacent rate of grant is to be removed from the beginning of the 2011-12 academic year. Mature students who reside 45 km or more from their higher education institution will continue to be eligible for the higher non-adjacent rate of grant. It is estimated that some 6,900 mature students will be impacted by this measure, with estimated savings of €4 million in 2011 and a full year saving of some €13 million. Other than that, the response is similar to that for Question No. 5.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Department is imposing new penalties on mature students and other students in terms of new criteria for grants. If it went after the universities for greater efficiencies and savings, it could find a significant amount of the €30 million in grant reductions for third level students. If the Department tackled the issue in the context of previous reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General in regard to contact time between academics and their students, significant savings could be made. Is it not a fact that until and unless the Department stands up and insists that its writ runs and nobody else's, this abuse in the universities will continue?

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am not sure the question is particularly related to this issue.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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It is related to the funding for this issue.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I take the Deputy's point and note what the Tánaiste said earlier in this regard. On the particular issue, the situation is that all students in similar circumstances should be treated equally. The Tánaiste dealt with a number of other issues arising from this question earlier in the debate. Some of the issues raised by the Deputy in supplementary questions will be dealt with in the Hunt report. As we heard earlier, it is hoped to have that published in the new year.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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We will proceed to the next question, which deals with that matter.