Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has plans to make provision for funding to colleges or through partnerships for hardship cases in view of the changes to the student grants due to commence in September and the fact that hardship may be caused in particular to those students affected that had started college prior to these changes being introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17790/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The financial circumstances of the country are such that I am not in a position currently to reverse any of the changes to the student grant schemes introduced by the previous Fianna Fáil – Green Party Government or to make extra funding available. However, students on particularly low incomes will continue to receive a "top-up" in the special rate of grant and the Student Assistance Fund at some €5m continues to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need. The access offices themselves will also provide support and advice to students to enable them to continue with their studies.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of mature students in receipt of the non adjacent rate of grant which will in September be changed to the adjacent rate; the savings estimated from this particular change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17791/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy is referring to the change to the student grant schemes introduced by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government which removes the automatic entitlement of mature students to the non-adjacent rate of grant. It is estimated that some 6,900 mature students live 45 kilometres or less from their institution. From September 2011, students qualifying for the maintenance element of the student grant in this cohort will receive the adjacent rate of grant together with payment of their fees and student contribution as appropriate. A full year saving of €13m is estimated from this measure.