Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 430: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will pass the necessary legislation to facilitate the transfer of responsibility for the administration of the higher education grants from local authorities to the vocational educational committees in order that the transfer of the function can take place in advance of the 2008/2009 academic year; if additional funding is to be made available to the VEC for the recruitment of staff to deal with the increased volume of applications as a result of the transfer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24757/07]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 489: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the plans she or her Department has to change the higher education grants scheme; if she will undergo a public consultation process on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25183/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 489 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.

My Department is in consultation 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, including the arrangements for the 2008/09 academic year. These consultations are a priority for my Department at present.