Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 147: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she can ensure that there will be no increase in student service charges at third level in 2011; if the student assistance fund will be applied to part-time students experiencing difficulties continuing their education; if she will commit to streamlining of the grants system for third level students to ensure ease of access for all and if she will commit to no reduction in maintenance grants for third level students [38751/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will appreciate that the preparation of the Estimates is carried out on a strictly confidential basis and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific issues or proposals including the student service charge, the maintenance grant or the student assistant fund at this stage. However, all proposals made in relation to education expenditure will be considered in the context of the Budget.

In line with the Transforming Public Services agenda, it is intended that the student grants administration process will be streamlined to create one consolidated student grant scheme to be administered by a single grant awarding authority. The main objective of this reform of the administrative arrangements is to bring about greater simplicity and efficiency to the system. The new administrative arrangements will be fully customer focused to ensure the efficient and timely delivery of grants to those students who demonstrate an entitlement. The Student Support Bill, due to progress to Committee Stage shortly, will provide an enabling legislative framework for the provision of all student grants, facilitating the creation of the single consolidated grants scheme and underpinning the reform and streamlining of administration procedures for the management of the grant awarding process.