Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the average cost of rented accommodation for students in Dublin city centre is €600 per month and that the grant system forces many students to seek part-time work to support themselves, thus not giving adequate attention to their studies; if she will include a speedy, efficient, centralised grant system in the forthcoming Student Support Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28486/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, I secured approval for a 10% increase in the standard rate of student grant for the academic year 2007/08. This very substantial increase, at twice the rate of inflation, will assist in meeting the costs associated with attending higher and further education for over 56,000 students who receive a maintenance grant. This has resulted in an increase in the maximum rate of ordinary grant to €3,420 for 2007/08 and students who qualify will also have the student service charge paid on their behalf. In addition, over 12,500 students in receipt of the Special Rate of maintenance grant have benefited from an even more substantial increase of over 14%, with the maximum rate for 2007/08 increasing to €6,690.

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.