Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to overhaul the system for means testing student grants; and if his plans will include the means testing of assets. [5541/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone should have an equal chance of realising their full potential at all levels of education, from primary through to third level. The student grant schemes have a fundamental role to play in ensuring that this objective is achieved in promoting equity of access to higher education. In this context, I am committed to keeping the student grants schemes, including the question of the means testing of assets, under review to ensure that the funding available is targeted equitably and towards those most in need of assistance.

I am glad to be able to say that students can look forward to improvements to the student grants scheme for the 2011/12 academic year when it is intended to introduce a single unified scheme to replace the existing four schemes. This development will make it easier for students when it comes to applying for a grant. In addition, the online grants application facility and payment to students by way of electronic funds transfer will be rolled out further this year.

I am also moving ahead with plans to introduce a single grant awarding authority from 2012 and, subsequently, the establishment of an independent appeals board. These developments, which are enabled by the provisions of the Student Support Act, will provide for fundamental reform of the student grants administration process at the earliest possible date.

The introduction of further reforms, including improvements to the way in which means testing is carried out, will be facilitated by consolidation of the administration function.