Review of the grants system

Summary

Noonan asks about a promised review body and whether its work covers other grant-system anomalies. The Minister says the matter is with Finance and for Government discussion as a budgetary issue, citing the timing of the court order as a source of delay.

Michael Noonan Mr. Noonan Fine Gael

(Limerick East): Is the Minister aware of the commitment given by the previous Minister for Education——

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Máire Geoghegan-Quinn Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn Fianna Fáil

I am.

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Michael Noonan Mr. Noonan Fine Gael

(Limerick East):——to set up a review body for the grants system? We expected this review to be completed for this year's grant but we have not received any report on it. What is the Department's position on this?

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Máire Geoghegan-Quinn Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn Fianna Fáil

A submission was made to the Department of Finance and consultations have taken place between officials in both Departments. This matter has been submitted to the Minister for discussion at Government level. It is a budgetary matter.

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Michael Noonan Mr. Noonan Fine Gael

(Limerick East): Is the Minister aware that this is only one item on which the previous Minister gave a commitment? There are a series of anomalies in the grants system on which commitments were given. Does the submission include matters other than this one?

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Máire Geoghegan-Quinn Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn Fianna Fáil

The only question I can reply to is this one. One of the reasons for the delay was that although the decision of the High Court was announced on 30 July the order of the court was not made until 7 September. There was nothing the Department could do in the meantime.

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