Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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92. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the latest Central Statistics Office consumer price survey which shows the cost of education is 4.8% higher compared to September 2012; and his further views on whether the financial strain being placed on parents and students is reflected by the fact that the average third level grant amounts to €84 per week compared to the lowest rate of job seeker's allowance which is €100. [42206/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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There was no change in Budget 2013 to any of the student grant rates including the non-adjacent or adjacent rates of grant, or the higher special rate of grant, for the 2013 financial year. The aim of the student maintenance grant scheme has always been to make a contribution to the cost of going to college; covering the full cost has never been a feasible option. Students from welfare dependent families receive the special rate of grant which equates to €164 per week. As the Deputy will be aware, the reality of our economic situation presents significant challenges that have to be reconciled with limitations on public resources. This is a very stark reality, which, unfortunately, means that changes to any public service, including the student grant scheme, cannot be ruled out.

I empathise with students and I am very conscious of the fundamental role played by the student grant scheme in supporting families who are putting their children through further and higher education. However, the state of the public finances is such that tough decisions had to be made to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run.