Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 980: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has satisfied herself with the operation of the grants scheme for third level education; if her attention has been drawn to the major dissatisfaction and hardship arising from delays in payment of grants to students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11153/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. These are the higher education grants scheme, the vocational education committees' scholarships scheme, the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees and the maintenance grants scheme for students attending post leaving certificate courses. The higher education grants scheme is administered by the local authorities. The other three schemes are administered by the vocational education committees. The process of assessing eligibility for third level or further education grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. Among the factors which give rise to delays in processing applications is where the administering body is awaiting further information and-or documentation from applicants.

My Department, in recognition of the importance of the timely provision of payment to eligible students, is engaged in ongoing consultations with the Irish Vocational Education Association and the County and City Managers' Association with a view to improving the existing arrangements and ensure the earlier processing of applications and the making of payments to eligible students. In this regard, a working group with representatives from both associations has been established. The broad terms of reference of this group is to examine ongoing operational issues with the current system of administration of the schemes. Issues regarding the early payments of grants to eligible students are included in the discussions and-or deliberations of this group.

My Department is also in discussions with the existing stakeholders on the future administration of the schemes. My intention is that whatever future administration of the schemes we put in place, it will be one which delivers a quality and timely service to students, and ensures consistency of application and client accessibility.