Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 130: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she expects to publish the third level student support Bill; if she intends to revise the method of assessing means in the context of the Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5723/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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

My Department has been engaged in substantial consultations with the key stakeholders 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 on the future administration possibilities for student support and their possible role therein. 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, as I have previously indicated, be provided for in new statutory arrangements through a student support Bill. I hope to be in a position to seek Government approval in the near future for the drafting of the Bill.