Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she will introduce the long promised Student Support Bill. [21477/07]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will make changes to the administration of the higher education grant by local authorities and the VEC; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21668/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 412 together.

As the Deputies may already be aware, I plan to introduce a single unified scheme of maintenance grants for students and to consolidate the administration of this unified grants scheme in the VEC sector. This will, I believe, provide for a more coherent administrative system. The scheme, which will be underpinned by a new Student Support Bill, will facilitate consistency of application, improved client accessibility and timely delivery of grants.

The Student Support Bill is at an advanced stage of preparation, and I hope to be in a position to publish it shortly.