Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she intends to centralise the administration of the third level college grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22310/05]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to reform the system of administration of grants and supports for all third level courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27685/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 107 together.

Third level student support is currently provided through three means-tested maintenance grant schemes. The higher education grants scheme operates on a statutory basis, while the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme and the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees operate on an administrative basis. The statutory framework for maintenance grants under the higher education grants scheme is set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts 1968 to 1992.

In accordance with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government I plan to introduce a single unified scheme of maintenance grants for students in higher education. This will provide for a more coherent administration system which will facilitate consistency of application and improved client accessibility. This is necessary if we are to ensure public confidence in the awards system and ensure the timely delivery of grants to those who need them most.

My Department has been engaged in ongoing consultations with the key stakeholders such as the Irish Vocational Educational Association, the County and City Managers' Association, various social partners and other relevant Departments, including the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Revenue Commissioners, in order to map the most logical and effective arrangements for the future structure and administration of the student support schemes.

These discussions have substantially clarified the positions of the stakeholders in relation to the future administration possibilities for student support and their possible role.

I expect to be in a position shortly to determine the best strategy to give effect to the programme for Government commitment to the payment of the maintenance grants through a unified and flexible payment scheme.

Whatever new arrangements are eventually decided upon will be provided for, as I previously indicated, in new statutory arrangements through a Student Support Bill. This Bill, which will provide statutory underpinning for the schemes, will have as a key objective the promotion of equality of access. I also envisage that the Bill will provide for an independent appeals system. The timescale for the publication of this Bill is contingent on the range of issues which are the subject of the deliberations following the consultations to which I referred.