Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she intends to proceed with centralising the operation of the means test for third level grants to an appropriate Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13496/06]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her response to claims from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions that there is a lack of public trust in the existing student support grant schemes; when she intends to introduce the legislation to reform the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13497/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 158 together.

The Deputy will be aware that 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 and ensure the timely delivery of grants to those who need them most.

As I mentioned previously, my Department has been engaged in substantial consultations with the key stakeholders 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 therein. I expect to be in a position shortly to determine the best strategy, having regard to the many and complex issues involved, 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 expect to be in a position to seek Government approval in the near future for the drafting of the Bill.