Written answers

Wednesday, 5 October 2011

Department of Education and Skills

Higher Education Grants

9:00 pm

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the third level grant, the non-adjacent grant, which has been changed to 45 km from 25 km for persons who live in rural areas in which there is no public transport and who have to travel to the nearest town to pick up public transport, which adds up to more than 45 km; if the rules can be altered to facilitate this, particularly when students are renewal students who received the higher amount last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27733/11]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to change the distance limit for the adjacent and non-adjacent higher education grant; and if he will allow discretion to the local authorities in certain circumstances. [27755/11]

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reverse the changes in criteria to qualify for the non-adjacent rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27860/11]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 97 and 106 together.

I regret that the economic circumstances of the country are such that I am not in a position to reverse or vary any of the changes to the student grant schemes announced in Budget 2011 by the previous Government because that Government had factored the savings from these measures into the public expenditure programme for 2011. The measurement of the distances for student grant purposes is a matter for grant awarding bodies. There has been no change as to how these distances are measured. As in the past for all cases, the shortest most direct route to the institution attended is measured.

In the interest of fairness to all students, it is not possible to make exceptions to the terms and conditions of the grant schemes.

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the acceptable documents that are required by vocational education committees to satisfy the proof of residency condition for a student applying for a maintenance grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27734/11]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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From the details supplied, it appears that the Deputy is referring to proof of independent residency to allow a student to be assessed as an independent mature student. Firstly, to enable such an assessment, a student must be at least twenty three years of age on the first of January of the year of entry or re-entry to an approved course. Assuming that is the case, the documentary evidence normally required to support independent residency includes utility bills, such as telephone, gas or electricity bill, evidence of registration with the Private Residential Tenancies Board or official documentation received at the address, from, for example, a Government Department.

In exceptional circumstances, where it is not possible to produce such proofs, the awarding authority may, at its discretion, agree to accept other documentary evidence that provides an acceptable degree of proof of independent living.

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