Seanad debates

Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Third Level Scholarship Schemes

 

5:00 pm

Photo of Trevor Ó ClochartaighTrevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit anseo. Tá mé ag ardú ceiste a bhaineann leis an Roinn Oideachas. Tuigimid go bhfuil ciorruithe ar siúl agus go bhfuil sé tábhachtach beart a dhéanamh de réir briathar ó thaobh airgeadais de agus déileáil go cothrom ó thaobh buiséad agus mar sin de ach ag an am a bhfuil na ciorruithe seo ag tarlú, tá sé níos tábhachtaí ná riamh go mbeadh sparántachtaí agus tacaíocht ar fáil do dhaoine éagsúla le dul i mbun cúrsaí ollscoile. Go stairiúil bhí sraith de sparántachtaí le fáil faoin Roinn Oideachais, na sparántachtaí teoranta, na sparántaigh neamh-teoranta, sparantachtaí Gaeltachta agus sparantachtaí Sheachtain na Cásca 1916 agus sparántachtaí Donogh O'Malley. An cheist atá agam don Aire ná cén luach a bhí leis na sparántachtaí sin le roinnt blianta anuas, cé mhéad díofa a bronnadh agus cá seasann siad ag an bpointe seo?

I welcome the Minister of State. The issue is one for the Department of Education and Skills and concerns third level scholarships. We have had an illustrious history of providing scholarships through the Department for various reasons. However, times are tough and I seek clarification on the scholarship schemes in existence. I am aware of five - the limited, unlimited, Gaeltacht, Easter week and Donogh O'Malley scholarships which are awarded for different reasons to student who show great skill in the work they are doing in school or do particularly well in their examinations. What was the value of these scholarships? How many of them have been awarded and what are the future intention for them? In these financially difficult times it is more important than ever that we have very good scholarship schemes available to act as a great incentive for young leaving certificate students to try harder, do better and pick up a scholarship to allow them to proceed to third level to complete their education.

Bheinn an-bhuíoch den Aire Stáit freagra agus soiléiriú a fháil maidir leis na scolaireachtaí seo.

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