Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to review the mature student grant system for higher education; the meetings he has had with representative groups or agencies regarding such a review; if so, the results of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28563/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Under Budget 2011, the previous Fianna Fáil-Green party Government introduced changes to the qualifying criteria for the non-adjacent rate of student grant. These changes remove the automatic entitlement of mature students to the non-adjacent rate of grant and increase the qualifying distance criterion for that rate of grant to 45kms.

As the previous Government had factored in the savings from these changes to the public expenditure programme for 2011, I regret that I am not in a position to reverse or vary them. However, while a qualifying student may receive a lower rate of grant for the 2011/12 academic year, they will not loose grant assistance. Students on particularly low incomes will also receive a top-up in the special rate of grant. Students in exceptional financial circumstances can apply for assistance under the Student Assistance Fund. Information on the Fund is available through the access offices of third-level institutions. The access offices themselves will also continue to provide support and advice to students to enable them to continue with their studies.

I understand the concerns of mature students regarding the 2011 budgetary measures and I will take account of these in considering any future changes to the student grant schemes as part of the budgetary process for 2012 and beyond, having regard to the position of the public finances. I have met with the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and discussed a range of topics including the changes to the student grant scheme and the impact on students of the 2011 budgetary measures.