Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of students in 1996, 2007 and 2008 who were on vocational training opportunity schemes and qualified for higher education grants; the rationale for disallowing these students from applying for higher education grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2267/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The total numbers of students in receipt of Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) allowances for 1996, 2007 and 2008 is attached. It is not possible to indicate how many of these were grant-holders, although only "dispersed" VTOS students are eligible to apply for a maintenance grant - the majority "core" VTOS students are not.

Students currently in receipt of the BTEA or VTOS allowances and the maintenance grant will continue to be eligible for both payments for the duration of their current course provided they continue to meet the terms and conditions of the schemes. With effect from the academic year 2010/11, students entering or progressing to a new course will no longer be eligible to hold both BTEA orVTOS allowances together with a student maintenance grant. These students may continue to apply to be assessed to have the cost of the student service charge and any tuition fees paid on their behalf.

It was decided to discontinue the practice of allowing students to hold both the BTEA or VTOS allowance and a student maintenance grant simultaneously as this represents a duplication of income support payments.

VTOS 1st January Participation Stats:

*Only "dispersed" VTOS students are eligible to apply for a maintenance grant - the majority "core" VTOS students are not.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the rationale for stopping persons on back to education allowance from applying for higher education grants; the number of persons on back to education allowance that also had higher grant in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2268/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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It was decided to discontinue the practice of allowing students to hold both the Back to Education Allowance and a student maintenance grant simultaneously as this represents a duplication of income support payments.

The Deputy will appreciate that many categories of applicants apply for funding under the maintenance grant schemes. My Department does not collate information specifically on students in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance scheme only.

Students currently in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance and the maintenance grant will continue to be eligible for both payments for the duration of their current course provided they continue to meet the terms and conditions of the schemes. With effect from the academic year 2010-11, students entering or progressing to a new course will no longer be eligible to hold the Back to Education Allowance together with a student maintenance grant. These students may continue to apply to be assessed to have the cost of the student service charge and any tuition fees paid on their behalf.

The Back to Education Allowance is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to encourage and facilitate people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the workforce. Eligibility for the Back to Education Allowance and associated payments is determined and administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs and is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the systems and policy that is being set in place to ensure that attendance in third level education is maintained despite the possibility of college fees being imposed on students and the decrease in the higher education grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2269/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Higher Education Authority has provisionally indicated a 6% increase in new entrants to third level education between the academic year 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. Information from the Central Applications Office also confirms that attendance in third level education is being maintained and has, in fact, increased. In 2008, the number of applications was 68,809 while the number in 2009 was 74,621. In addition there was a 7.7% increase from 17/1/2009 to 17/1/2010.

In relation to the introduction of a form of third-level student contribution, my officials prepared a technical report, at my request, on this issue. I have referred the technical report to the strategy group which is working on a national strategy for higher education. This report will input to the strategy group's broader deliberations on how any additional resource requirements for delivering on a new vision and related set of policy objectives for the sector can be met over the timeframe of the new strategy.

In relation to student grants, students who qualify for maintenance grants will continue to receive substantial grant funding, together with full support for payment of the student service charge. Those on particularly low incomes will also continue to receive a "top-up" in the special rate of maintenance grant. In addition, some €5 million will continue to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need. The access offices themselves will also continue to provide support and advice to students to enable them to continue with their studies.