Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students in receipt of grants under the higher education grant scheme for the 2011-12 academic year; the number in receipt of the non-adjacent rate of grant; the number in receipt of the adjacent rate of grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38221/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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From the information made available to my Department by the 66 grant awarding authorities, 43,082 students have been awarded a grant so far this year under the student grant scheme. This includes both new applications and renewals.

The information from 33 grant awarding authorities in this regard refers to the week ended 11 November 2011. The information from the remaining 33 awarding authorities refers to the week ended 23 September 2011.

The statistical breakdown on the number of students awarded the adjacent rate of grant and the non-adjacent rate of grant will not be made available to my Department by the grant awarding authorities until the end of the academic year.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total allocation for higher education grants for 2011; the expenditure for 2011 up to 15 November last; the likely expenditure by the end of December; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38222/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The allocation for the student grant scheme for the 2011 financial year - which covers both further and higher education - is some €386m.

The expenditure up to the end of November is some €286m. The actual outturn on the student grant scheme will not be known until end of year claims, which are now due, from the 66 grant awarding authorities have been received and processed.