If you're bent on going to college next autumn and are hoping that maintenance grants are going to be increased, you're in for a disappointment. Last November, the Minister for Education and Science, Micheal Martin, told the Dail that the fact that third-level fees had been abolished by the previous Government had "significantly constrained" the ability of the department to get further funding for increased grants. This year, he said, third-level tuition fees will cost the State £140 million.
While the abolition of fees was a windfall for the affluent middle classes, maintenance grant-dependent students gained nothing. Indeed, according to Martin, some grant holders may have lost up to £280 annually because the tax saving device of the covenant was also abolished.
The abolition of fees has also had on-campus ramifications, according to Adrian Langan, president of TCD's student union. The difference between rich and poor students has become more obvious.
"A small group at the top end is noticeably more affluent," he says. "This makes it difficult for the people at the bottom, whose position has declined."
The Minister has made it clear that, rather than giving a blanket grant increase, he favours targeting students who are particularly disadvantaged.
It is the Government's belief, he told the Dail, that "significant improvements in the grants scheme are required." However, "we believe in prioritising . . . it is my intention to first seek to deal with the more significant anomalies or disincentives in the grants scheme before dealing with the more general issue of levels."
Since then, as a result of the Budget, almost £8 million has been allocated over the next two years to tackle disadvantage at third level. Included in this is £2.4 million which will fund an extension of the maintenance grants scheme so that independent mature students will now qualify for higher, non-adjacent rate of grant.
A further £2 million is earmarked to promote access to third level for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including people with disabilities. A decision on how this latter sum is to be spent will be made only after consultations with third-level colleges. However, it would not be unreasonable to assume that some of it will be used to give extra funding to targeted disadvantaged students. The student registration charge, which must be paid in all State third-level institutions, is another bone of contention. This charge, which covers the cost per student of exams, student services and registration, was introduced when fees were abolished. However, students getting maintenance grants are exempt from these charges.
Initially, registration charges were set at £150, but they since rose, first to £250 and last year to £260. Some colleges add on extra local charges.
The Minister has refused to abolish these costs. To do so "would benefit the better-off sections of society only" and would cost £12 million, he told the Dail. Half of all third-level students are currently getting maintenance grants.
