Written answers
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Department of Education and Skills
Student Support Schemes
10:00 pm
John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he has decided to implement a reduction in the mature student grant and to do so retrospectively; his views on whether this will have a devastating effect on many mature students who, upon enrolling in full time education for an agreed term, had budgeted the then available grant into their daily lives and who will now find themselves in a position in which they can no longer continue under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20718/11]
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The economic circumstances of the country are such that I am not in a position to reverse the change to the student grant scheme referred to by the Deputy. In estimating public expenditure savings to accrue from the measures introduced in Budget 2011, the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government had already factored in the application of this change to both new and continuing mature students. For clarity, I should point out that this is not a retrospective change, but it will apply to all mature students from September 2011.
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 â¬5 million continues to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need.
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