asked the Minister for Education if he will dispense with the rule whereby it is essential to apply for the higher education grant in the year of sitting for the leaving certificate examination in order to facilitate persons who wish to, or need to, seek employment for some years before entering third level education.

The position under the existing provisions of the higher education grants scheme is that in the case of a student who qualifies academically for a grant in the leaving certificate examination of a particular year and who takes up employment for up to two years before entering on a third level course of education, my Department would offer no objection to the relevant local authority accepting an application for grant from such student and treating it as if it had been received on or before the closing date in the year the student sat for the leaving certificate examination. Accordingly, the concession sought in the Deputy's question is already provided for in the scheme.

It is only granted in part. Would the Minister not agree that the concession period referred to of two years is entirely arbitrary and that it would be appropriate to extend that period to provide for the case of people who have a qualification to enter university but require to work for a period longer than two years in order to obtain sufficient financial means to enable them to do so?

To anticipate a later question, I am conscious that certain aspects of the operation of the grant scheme should be looked at. In that context, it will be examined.