Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 143: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the mechanisms used by vocational education committees in determining the distance from a candidate's home to place of education with regard to the awarding of the adjacent or non-adjacent rate of grant; if he is satisfied that this method of measuring the distance is accurate and transparent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36096/12]

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

The guidance given to the 66 awarding authorities, the local authorities and VECs, in relation to the application of the distance criterion, for determining whether the adjacent or non-adjacent rate of grant applied, provided for the measurement of the shortest most direct route to the institution from the normal residence. The awarding authorities were best positioned to interpret the application of the distance criterion in the context of local circumstances.

The Student Grant Scheme and the Student Support Regulations for the 2012/13 academic year were published by my Department on the 11th of June 2012 to coincide with the introduction of the single grant awarding authority, Student Universal Support Ireland or SUSI, and the new central online application system going live. Article 27(3)(a) of the 2012 Scheme provides that the distance criterion will be measured in line with agreed guidelines. My Department is liaising with SUSI in regard to these guidelines.