Written answers

Thursday, 13 October 2011

Department of Education and Skills

Higher Education Grants

2:00 pm

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will revise clause 17.3 of the higher education scheme, which restricts retraining and upskilling due to progression failure (details supplied); if he will put in place a fairer and more market responsive system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29191/11]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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To satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course.The objective of this policy is to help as many students as possible in obtaining one qualification at each level of study thereby increasing their employment prospects.

Given the level of demand on the student grant budget from first time students and students that are progressing with their studies to a higher level, there are no plans at present to change the arrangements in place. However, Section 473A, Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, as amended by Section 11 of the Finance Act 2011, provides for tax relief, at the standard rate of tax, for tuition fees paid in respect of approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including certain approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in E.U. Member States and in non EU countries. This information may be useful to the student to which the Deputy refers.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount being spent on third level grants this year; the number of students that will receive grants; the way this compares to last year's figure; if any students who had been provisionally promised a grant subsequently had it withdrawn; the breakdown of the different level of grants provided and the way this compares to last year; if he plans to cut the student grant in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29226/11]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The allocation for student grants in 2011 is just over €386m. This is an increase of some 5% or €19m over the 2010 provision. Preliminary information supplied by the 66 grant awarding authorities indicates that some 72,500 students were in receipt of a grant for the 2010/2011 academic year. A comparable figure for 2011/2012 will not be available until the end of the academic year. The rates of grant effective from January 2011 are:

.......................................Non-Adjacent Rate.........Adjacent Rate Full Maintenance........................€3,120......................€1,250 Part Maintenance (75%)............€2,340........................€ 940 Part Maintenance (50%)............€1,560........................€ 625 Part Maintenance (25%)..............€ 780........................€ 315

Standard Rates of Grant applicable from January 2010 are:

.....................................Non-Adjacent Rate....Adjacent Rate

Full Maintenance...................€3,250..................€1,300

Part Maintenance (75%).........€2,435...................€ 980

Part Maintenance (50%).........€1,625...................€ 650

Part Maintenance (25%)............€ 810................ ..€ 330

Special Rate of Grant applicable from January 2011

...........................................Non-Adjacent Rate....Adjacent Rate

Full Special Rate.......................€6,100......................€2,445

Of which top-up represents.......€2,980......................€1,195

Special Rate of Grant applicable from January 2010

...........................................Non-Adjacent Rate.....Adjacent Rate

Full Special Rate...........................€6,355................€2,545

Of which top-up represents...........€3,105.................€1,245

Data is not collected on the number of students from whom an offer of a grant may be withdrawn. In relation to any potential changes to the student grant scheme under the Budget for 2012, the Deputy will appreciate that the preparation of the Estimates for any Budget is carried out on a strictly confidential basis and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific issues or proposals, including those relating to student grants, in advance of the Budget announcement

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