Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 118: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid the third level maintenance grant. [2214/11]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 119: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid the third level maintenance grant. [2215/11]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 120: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid the third level maintenance grant. [2216/11]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 121: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid the third level maintenance grant. [2217/11]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 122: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid the third level maintenance grant. [2218/11]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 124: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be granted their third level maintenance grant in view of the fact that the non-payment of this grant is causing financial hardship. [2382/11]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 125: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be granted their third level maintenance grant in view of the fact that the non-payment of this grant is causing financial hardship. [2383/11]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 126: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be granted their third level maintenance grant in view of the fact that the non-payment of this grant is causing financial hardship. [2384/11]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 127: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be granted their third level maintenance grant in view of the fact that the non-payment of this grant is causing financial hardship. [2385/11]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 128: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be granted their third level maintenance grant in view of the fact that the non-payment of this grant is causing financial hardship. [2386/11]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 129: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be granted their third level maintenance grant in view of the fact that the non-payment of this grant is causing financial hardship. [2387/11]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 to 122, inclusive, and 124 to 129, inclusive, together.

The process of assessing and paying third level or further education grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. I am aware that the timing of processing and paying of grants varies between the 66 awarding authorities depending on a number of variables including the volume of applications received, staffing resources and whether or not properly completed application forms have been submitted. Work prioritisation across different functions, and how available staff are deployed to execute those functions are matters for the management of each VEC and local authority concerned.

This year's student grant schemes include a number of significant administrative and service improvements aimed at addressing the issue of delay. These included addressing the issue of cash flow for grant awarding authorities to enable the timely payment of grants through the introduction of an advance payment arrangement.

My Department is in constant contact with grant awarding authorities to monitor the situation in relation to the processing and payment of student grants. Before Christmas, it wrote, on my behalf, to the heads of the grant awarding authorities to inform them that I am anxious to ensure that remaining applicants receive decisions on their grant applications as soon as possible and requesting their co-operation in prioritising this work in their Councils/Committees.