John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 133: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their higher education grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39692/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. I understand from the grant awarding authority in this case, that the grant application in question has been processed and confirmation in relation to certain details is awaited from the student.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 134: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their higher education grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39693/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. I understand from the grant awarding authority in this case that the application in question is currently being assessed and a decision will issue as soon as possible.

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 135: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of third level students in County Donegal qualified for third level grants in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39694/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I regret that the information is not collated by the student grant awarding authorities in the format requested by the Deputy. However, information supplied to my Department by the grant awarding authorities in Donegal indicates that 3,750 students were in receipt of a student grant for the 2010/11 academic year.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 136: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for denying grant assistance to post graduate students; and the way that his policy fits into the stated objective of economic growth [39717/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Grant assistance remains available to postgraduate students on a more limited basis. The primary motivation for the Government in taking very difficult budgetary decisions is to retrieve our economic sovereignty and put the economy on a road to recovery. In closing the gap between revenue and spending, unpalatable savings measures are necessary and savings for student supports were inevitable as part of that. Given the growth in demand for participation in third level, the Government has endeavoured, to the greatest extent possible, to protect disadvantaged students.

In this regard, I have adopted a fees only contribution at postgraduate level but this will continue to provide support for a relatively wide number of post-graduate students. While there would be no maintenance payments, all 'special rate' students will have their fees paid while another 4,000 students will receive a fee contribution of €2,000. In access terms, the requirement to pay a fee would be likely to be a greater obstacle to entry than lack of maintenance support. This approach has enabled me to ensure that substantial allocations continue to be made to students from lower income backgrounds to achieve an under-graduate qualification to improve their job opportunities.