Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1546: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps she will take to introduce and streamline a number of separate support schemes administered by various different bodies operating for students embarking on third level education as the criteria for eligibility varies from scheme to scheme; and if she will introduce a standard scheme resolve and streamline to simplify the confusing maze of student support schemes. [1595/07]

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1547: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the proposals she has to reform the student grants system to ensure that provision is made for essential child care costs where necessary for a student. [1596/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1546 and 1547 together.

The Deputy will be aware that, in accordance with the commitment in the 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, improved client accessibility and ensure the timely delivery of grants to those who need them most. This is part of my overall plan to introduce service improvements in the administration of the student grant schemes. These will include guaranteed timeframes for the earlier payment of grants, an independent appeals procedure and more efficient arrangements for handling applications and making payments.

To effect these administrative and service improvements requires the introduction of a new statutory basis for the scheme to replace the existing arrangements which involve a mix of statutory and non-statutory administrative schemes. Accordingly, the Government has approved the drafting of a new Student Support Bill which will place all student support schemes on a statutory footing for the first time, including providing for the designation of an appropriate awarding authority and for the general basis on which grants will be awarded to eligible students. Work on the Bill is at an advanced stage and I hope to be in a position to publish the Bill early in 2007. The maintenance grants are reviewed annually and improvements made as necessary, having regard to available resources.

My Department has, as I have indicated previously, engaged in substantial consultations with the key stakeholders, including students in order to map the most logical and effective arrangements for the future structure and administration of the student support schemes. This process of consultation is on-going. Implementation of the Bill when enacted, will take place in consultation with the relevant stakeholders to ensure an orderly transition and minimise disruption to students.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1548: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the proposals she has to increase the value of the student maintenance grant to support students with essential day to day costs of participating in higher education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1597/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, major improvements have been made by this Government in both the income limits and the payment levels for third level grants.

It has been the practice in recent years to increase the level of maintenance grants annually, at least in line with inflation. This year, in line with this policy, I announced increases of 3% in the ordinary maintenance grant to give a maximum grant of €3,110 in the 2006/07 academic year.

In addition, the reckonable income limits for ordinary maintenance grants have been increased by 5.3% for the 2006/07 academic year. This increase exceeds the increase in the average industrial wage for the September to September reference period. The top limit for grant eligibility where there are less than four dependent children has been increased from €44,350 to €46,700, ensuring that a significantly higher number of students from households with moderate incomes will not have to pay the Student Service Charge of €800.

Special Rates of Maintenance Grant, sometimes referred to as "top-up" grants, payable to disadvantaged grant holders, were introduced with effect from the 2000/01 academic year. This year's schemes are giving particular priority to addressing inequities in participation of students from the lower socio-economic groups through both rate and threshold increases in the Special Rates of Maintenance Grant. The annual income threshold for the special rate of grant was increased by 7.18% to €16,748. It is estimated that over 12,500 students in receipt of the special rate element of maintenance grants will see this grant increased by 22.48%, with the maximum rate for the 2006/2007 non-adjacent grant increased to €5,970. The maximum rate for the 2006/2007 adjacent rate increased to €2,390.

Under my Department's student maintenance grant schemes, I am committed to ongoing improvements in the student support schemes including increasing the rates and income limits, as resources permit.