Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of students in receipt of higher education grants for the 2006 to 2007 academic year; if she will provide a breakdown of that number indicating those who are in receipt of a full grant, a partial grant and a top-up grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5073/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will appreciate that the annual statistical returns in respect of 2006/07 academic year will be submitted to my Department when the academic year is completed and all payments finalised. This is to allow for a complete picture in a full academic year and will into take account late applications for a grant. Full data in respect of grant recipients in 2006/07 will not, therefore be available until approximately August 2007.

In relation to the number of students receiving financial assistance under the student support schemes, the most recent figures show that over 57,000 students benefited under the schemes in 2005/06, of which approximately 12,500 benefited from the special rate of maintenance grant (sometimes known as the 'top-up' grant) in addition to the basic maintenance grant. The top-up grant was introduced by this Government to provide greater assistance to the most disadvantaged students, and in this regard it should be noted that the maximum amount of grant support available this year is €5,970 (including the special rate of maintenance grant) compared to just €2,032 in 1996/97.