Seanad debates
Tuesday, 25 March 2003
Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed).
One of the issues referred to by the Minister in the previous Bill was the matter of assistance for those returning to school, education or work. The Department of Social and Family Affairs has shown in recent years that great improvements can be made in those schemes. We saw the benefit in the literature we received from the Minister for this year. Mature students get great help from such schemes to return to education. Galway university was a little disappointed by the change in the back-to-education allowance scheme for third level postgraduate students. The university is disappointed that summer payments have ended for allowance recipients. I ask the Minister to examine this issue. She has received correspondence from the NUIG and probably other universities about the scheme. Postgraduate students obviously believe their case should be re-examined. The weekly allowance they receive is €124.80, plus an annual book allowance of €254. Students entered the programme on the understanding that they would be able to complete their postgraduate degree under the scheme. Now they believe they may not obtain their full qualification because they may not have the resources to finish the course. That is disappointing.
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