Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

That will be a beneficial improvement.

These delays have caused much stress to students and have a knock-on effect on their education and outcomes. How many times has the Joint Committee on Education and Skills requested the heads of third level institutions not to prevent students from sitting examinations or using library facilities because their grant had not come through to pay their registration fee? I am glad the Minister is tackling this issue but I regret her predecessors let it languish this far. The student support system has been in dire need of reform for years, particularly at a time when resources were much more plentiful.

The general residence requirement for a maintenance grant will be three out of the past five years and met by students in all cases. This has been problematic in the past, as parents and students had to fall into this category. I have encountered situations where parents have had to go overseas for work while their children remain in Ireland. As they are under 23 years, their eligibility must be assessed in the context of their parents' residence. If the parents are not resident, the student cannot receive a grant, despite being resident.