David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reform the higher education grants system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14407/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will probably be aware that, currently, there are four student grant schemes administered by 66 grant awarding bodies (local authorities and VECs) on my Department's behalf. However, earlier this year, the Student Support Act became law. This paves the way to consolidate the four existing schemes into a single unified scheme and I intend that this will happen for the 2011/12 academic year. In addition, plans are well underway to replace the 66 grant awarding bodies with one single authority. I have approved the appointment of the CDVEC to operate this centralised body on a transitional basis subject to the agreement of an operational plan with my Department. The single authority will be operative from 2012. It will accept all new applications initially. Existing grant awarding bodies will continue to deal with the renewal of existing grants on a wind-down basis over three to four years. I will also be establishing an independent appeals board commensurate with the provisions of the legislation. In tandem with these developments, the on line application facility for students and the payment of grants by EFT continues to be rolled out. I expect that these fundamental reforms will make it easier for students to apply for a grant. They will also ensure consistency of treatment of applications and the timely payment of grants.