Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 409: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills further to the withdrawal of assistance towards college fees from the Millennium Partnership Fund from part-time students, if she accepts that there may be no return on the funding already provided if such students have to abandon their education for want of ongoing financial support; her plans to ensure that such students receive the supports they need to continue their education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21349/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the need for budgetary adjustment has made it necessary to discontinue the Millennium Partnership Fund from the 2010/11 academic year. The fund was disbursed by local Partnership Companies, mostly in the form of small grants to individual students to cover costs of items such as books and travel. Most students in receipt of support from the fund will continue to be supported under the means-tested student maintenance grant schemes and many will benefit from the significantly higher special rate of grant. In addition, third level students in difficult financial circumstances will continue to have access to the Student Assistance Fund. Part-time courses did not qualify for support under the Millennium Partnership Fund.