Ninth Level Ireland

“Deputy Seán Kyne: I am delighted to raise this issue of importance in my constituency and, I am sure, across the country. It has been raised time and again by a number of my constituents who are affected by it. Our student grant scheme, which was set out in the Student Support Act 2011 and SI 305/2011 and amended in previous years, has a flaw that has become particularly visible …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Topical Issue Debate, 21 February]

“In a press release issued yesterday, it has been announced by the Free Education for Everyone Galway Group that students are set to march against the arranged increase of third-level fees to €3000 by 2015 and the abolition of the Postgraduate grant …” (more)

[College Tribune, 21 February]

“The High Court will this week consider whether to order a reversal of changes to the student grant system imposed in the 2011 Budget – hearing from students who claim the changes have forced them out of college …” (more)

[TheJournal.ie, 20 February]

“Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if grants or funding will be available for students going to take masters degrees and PhD, 4th level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 16 February]

“Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which the centralised office for higher education grants will be in place; the location of same; when it will come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 14 February]

“Deputy Patrick O’Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the 2012 applications will be made available for the postgraduate grant; the criteria to qualify for the postgraduate grant; if there are any proposed changes being made to the criteria or grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann, 8 February]

“Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills the financial assistance available to low-income students wishing to pursue postgraduate studies; if students who received maintenance grants or other assistance at undergraduate level will be similarly assisted as postgraduate students; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 1 February]

“Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, in the context in which a person has rental income from property that is let, but has significant interest associated with the said property, which consumes all of the rental income available and more, the person is entitled to have the said interest associated with the said rental income calculated in the assessment of eligibility for higher education grant purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 31 January]

“Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of leaving certificate students who have applied for the higher education access route, HEAR, grant from as far back as August 2011, are still waiting for medical cards to be issued and that one of the criteria for applying for HEAR is that the family hold a medical card in 2011; and if he will ensure that disadvantaged students are not excluded from receiving the HEAR grant due to the long delays in issuing medical cards …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann, 24 January]

“Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will publish the new qualifying criteria for new entrant postgraduate students seeking to receive support with their third level fees from next year; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Questions, 19 January]

“Deputy Pat Deering: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider reviewing the criteria for third level grants in view of the fact that qualified persons now find themselves unemployed and who wish to reskill but the course they are considering is often at a similar or lower level than their existing qualifications which means they are ineligible for grant aid and must also give up their social welfare as they are no longer available for work …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 19 January]

“Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the possible impact of abolishing postgraduate grants on his areas of responsibility such as promoting innovation, research, enterprise, investment and job creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 18 January]

“Trinity College Dublin Graduate Students’ Union has criticised the Union of Students in Ireland for failing to consult with Trinity’s postgraduate representative body before deciding to begin confrontational protest measures against the government’s abolition of the postgraduate maintenance grant …” (more)

[Jack Leahy, University Times, 19 January]

“Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of his plans to introduce a capital asset test as part of the qualifying criteria for maintenance grants at third level from 2013 and, specifically, if agricultural land and other business assets will be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann, 11 January]

“Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills the process used by him when considering higher education grant appeals; if he does in fact adjudicate on the merits of appeals or merely refer them back to the awarding authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann, 11 January]

“Sir, – The stated mission of the Department of Education is to ‘provide high-quality education, which will enable individuals to achieve their full potential, to participate fully as members of society, and contribute to Ireland’s social, cultural and economic development’. In that context, recent Budget cuts to post-graduate education are astounding …” (more)

[Martin J Power and others, Irish Times, 17 December]

“Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the funding options, including reference to fees and grant support, open to a person from a low-income household currently in third level education who wishes to pursue postgraduate study commencing in the 2012-13 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 15 December]

“Grants intended to help the poorest students get through college are being paid so late that Limerick students are dropping out or seeking help from the St Vincent de Paul, it has been claimed …” (more)

[Bernie English, Limerick Post, 14 December]

“Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who were denied a student grant upon application in 2010 on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 13 December]

“Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide further details on his announcement that a capital assets test will be introduced in 2013 allowing certain capital assets as well as income to be assessed as part of all higher education grant scheme applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 13 December]