Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

This represents an increase of nearly 19,000, or 17%, on the numbers for 1996-97. Departmental expenditure on access measures to tackle disadvantage at third level has increased from €508,000 in 1997 to €24 million in 2002. I ask Fine Gael and Labour Senators to consider this statistic as an indicator of the performance of their parties while in power. In addition to increasing allocations for the fund for students with disabilities and the student assistance access fund, new measures have been introduced following the report of the action group on access to third level education. The group's most significant recommendation concerned the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students, commonly referred to as "top-up" grants. These recommendations were acted on without delay and were introduced with retrospective effect from the 2000-01 academic year. The annual income threshold for the special rates was increased by 32% and the special rate of grant for students residing more than 15 miles from college was increased to €4,000. It is expected that the number of students qualifying for the "top-up" grant in 2002-03 will double to 7,000 and I hope that figure will increase substantially during the next four years.

The action group's recommendation of a new millennium partnership fund for disadvantage, providing assistance to partnership companies and community groups, was implemented with effect from the 2001-02 academic year. The total allocation for the 2001-02 academic year was €1.2 million, with 37 partnerships and community groups receiving money. The allocation for the fund will be increased to €2 million in 2002. The Government introduced a maintenance grant scheme for students on post-leaving certificate courses, which is expected to cost over €12 million in 2002. Since the 1999-2000 academic year, the higher, non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable to all eligible mature students. In 2000-01, an access officer post was established in each institute of technology to enhance access by disadvantaged students, putting the institutes on a par with the university sector.

I wish to make clear that students who are eligible for means tested student support will not have to pay the €670 charge levied by third level institutions to defray the costs of registration, examinations and student services, as it will be paid on their behalf by my Department or through local authorities and vocational education committees. This means that at least 37% of students in universities and 47% of students in institutes of technology will not have to pay the charge. The increase in the charge must be viewed in the context of the overall package of measures I announced earlier this year, aimed at increasing and improving student support schemes for the 2002-03 academic year. The Government will spend €370 million on student supports, including free fees, in 2002. The measures announced are a clear indication of the Government's commitment to enhancing access to third level education.

Since my appointment as Minister for Education and Science, I have made clear at every opportunity that addressing educational disadvantage is one of my priorities.