Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that will have their higher education grants approved at €1,250 rather than €3,120 because of changes to the non-adjacent rate; if he has analysed the socio-economic and or income of the groups most affected; if he is prepared to condone students from low-income or one parent families leaving third level education because of their inability to afford the course or childcare costs; if there has been any analysis into the consequential increase in jobseeker's allowance for students who can no longer afford third level education; if he is conscious of the likelihood of a return to the days when only the wealthy could afford third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19153/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I regret that I am not in a position to reverse changes to the student grant scheme announced by the previous Government.

Some 18,000 students qualifying for grant support are estimated to live between 24kms and 45kms from their colleges. Furthermore, it is estimated that some 6,900 mature students qualifying for grant support live 45 kilometres or less from their institution. Students qualifying for the maintenance element of the student grant in these cohorts will receive the adjacent rate of grant together with payment of their fees or student contribution.

All students on particularly low incomes, including those that may be in one-parent families, will continue to receive a "top-up" in the special rate of grant. 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. Childcare costs may be supported under this fund.