Parliamentary Question addressed to the Minister for Education and Skills

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to extend the maintenance grant to students in receipt of back to education allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter?

Following a Budget 2010 decision, all new applicants in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), and the VTOS allowances for those pursuing PLC courses, are no longer eligible for maintenance support under the student grant scheme.

Students who qualify for the BTEA may, however, be considered for support for the student contribution under the student grant scheme provided they satisfy the conditions of the relevant Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations including those relating to residence, nationality, approved course, previous academic attainment and means.
I have no plans to change the current arrangement.