asked the Minister for Education if he will recommend changes in the regulations governing the European Social Fund-aided middle level technical training programme with respect to the provisions governing the payment of higher or lower grants based on the distance of a candidate from the nearest college providing courses he or she intends to follow, and the regulation regarding reasonable distance.

The lower rate of grant is awarded to students who in the light of distance and local public transport service could reasonably be expected to commute daily between home and college; the lower rate of grant applies in the case of every student whose home is within 15 miles of a college. There are no plans to change these conditions.