asked the Minister for Education if he intends to change the requirements of students attending regional technical colleges and so on, for qualification for higher education grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I do not consider that the requirements for eligibility for higher education grants on grounds of attainments in the case of students attending the regional technical colleges should differ from those applicable to students attending other third-level educational institutes. It should be borne in mind that there is also a scheme of scholarships operated by vocational education committees for students in the regional technical colleges.

Would the Minister not agree that in regional technical colleges there is an opportunity of encouraging high quality education courses for many students who do not have sufficient income to pursue studies? They can do the diploma courses but up to degree courses is very expensive and I would be obliged if the Minister would take a special look at this field with a view to assisting students who have a genuine interest in pursuing their educational careers.

I believe the Deputy is right when he says that such encouragement should take place but I do not think it would be improving the situation to do as he suggests. It is not known generally —it struck me that some people in the Union of Students are not aware of this—that quite a considerable number of these scholarships are available at the same value as the grants but with less qualifications. I might add that the figure amounts to almost 1,700 which is a substantial number in the circumstances.

Would the Minister consider introducing a system whereby students in RTCs who have pursued a certificate and a diploma course successfully would then be eligible for a higher education grant or similar scholarship in order to pursue a degree level course, even though he or she did not have the original entrance requirements pertaining to HE grants?

It would seem very strange that such a person would not have been able to avail of the scholarship which is often given at one honour level where four honours are required for university grants.

There are many students who by sheer hard work go through the certificate and the diploma courses and are quite academically suited to doing the degree courses.

If the Deputy does not pay attention the Chair will have to take other action.

I am asking constructive supplementaries.

The Deputy may not continue contrary to the Chair's ruling.