Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 616: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the backlog in the processing of third level grants in Kildare County Council; and if he will ensure enough staff are assigned to enable the processing of same. [37193/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968-1992 provide for the making of grants by local authorities to enable persons to attend approved courses of higher education. The process, whereby local authorities assess eligibility and make grant payments under the Higher Education Grants Scheme is provided for under these Acts. While the Higher Education Grants Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the local authorities, the provision of funding towards the cost of administration including staffing to local authorities is a matter for the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each County and City Manager is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. I understand that student grant applications are currently being processed by Kildare County Council and that it is anticipated that grant payments for eligible students will begin to be made to the relevant colleges by the end of this week.