asked the Minister for Education if he will amend the regulations governing the post-graduate higher education grants scheme as it affects students attending the first year LL.B. course at University College, Galway, who wish to qualify for entry to the four year course at the Dublin Law School; and if he will make a statement, as the problem was raised in a specific instance in Parliamentary Question No. 263 on 11 November 1981.

As I explained in my reply to the previous question to which reference is made, a grant may be paid only in respect of one primary degree course and one post-graduate course in accordance with the provisions of the higher education grants scheme. I would also refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave on 15 December to Question Nos. 19, 20 and 21 in which I stated that I am reviewing all aspects of the higher education grants scheme with a view to seeing whether further improvements can be effected.

Would the Minister take steps immediately to ensure that a grave injustice will not continue to be done to this student? Would the Minister agree she is being deprived of grants which are available to enable her to attend a post-graduate course on the grounds that an entrance qualification for the post-graduate course required that she would attend the first year of the LL.B. course in UCG? Because of the attendance at a one-year course, one year of which was an LL.B. course, to gain entrance to the other course, she was deprived of the university grant which would have been applicable to her? To move to Dublin to attend a course would involve this girl and her widowed mother in expense which they could not afford. The Minister knows the details of the case. A serious injustice is being done which requires an amendment to the regulations. I appeal to the Minister to take steps to change the regulations, to remove this anomaly and to allow this student the benefit of the university grants system which was set up to assist people in her circumstances?

The Deputy is obviously referring to the applicant who was the subject matter of a question some weeks ago.

I am, because it applies only to a student at UCG, it does not apply to a student attending UCD or Trinity College.

This question is of a general nature relating to all students who might be in similar circumstances in Galway. Then it refers to the specific instance of the question of 11 November. The Deputy has spoken to me in relation to this case and I have a great deal of sympathy with the young lady in question. However, the terms of the scheme are such as to debar people from obtaining grants to pursue two or more non-simultaneous post-graduate courses with grant aid or more than one primary non-simultaneous degree course. The reason for this is that at present persons as grant holders are eligible only to obtain grant aid for a primary degree and one post-graduate course. As the young lady in question had completed a primary degree in Galway and was grant-aided for a year's post-primary course in that university, the rules as framed would debar her from obtaining a grant to pursue a further course in Dublin. I have great sympathy for students who are in this situation in Galway and I am examining all aspects of the higher education grants scheme with a view to seeing if further improvements can be effected. If possible, I am anxious to provide relief for this student and similar students who may wish to pursue the course in the Incorporated Law Society, without at the same time, opening the scheme so wide as to have very far-reaching implications. As soon as I have completed that review, I shall be in touch with the Deputy.

I wish to express my thanks to the Minister for his generous response and I look forward to him taking action which will enable this student to have the benefit of university grants, and others who may find themselves in a similar situation in the future.

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