Mature victims of a cruel 'catch 22'

A bureaucratic "catch-22" means many mature students will not be able to avail of the new top-up grant for disadvantaged students.

The grant was recommended by Minister Michael Woods's action group for access to third-level - the group's remit included help for mature students. It gives an additional £1,225 per year to students who are entitled to the maximum grant, and is also being paid restrospectively for last year. However, EL has learned that mature students who are living with their parents or who have been resident abroad do not qualify.

EL has heard from one unfortunate mature student, who had counted on this money to pay off outstanding debts. He says that now he will not be able to return to college.

He has being denied the top-up because his parents do not meet the requirement of being in receipt of Child Dependent Allowance (CDA) in relation to him. This allowance is paid to parents in respect of children up to the age of 22. Mature students, by definition, are aged 23-plus.

Mature students who are classified as "independent" (living away from their parents in October of the year prior to going to college) do not have to comply with the CDA requirement.

Students fall into the affected "dependent" category for two main reasons, a Department of Education spokeswoman said. If they were living with parents on October 1st in the year prior to going to college, they are classified as dependent. Also, those who have been living abroad, but whose parents reside here, may be categorised as dependent.

The spokeswoman admitted there was no way "dependent" mature students could meet the criteria and agreed it was a "catch 22". Asked if there was any point in appealing, she said: "No".

Meanwhile, the Minister has said that local efforts are central to tackling educational disadvantage. "Government initiatives recognise that alleviating the effects of educational disadvantage calls for a multi-faceted approach across many agencies, both statutory and voluntary," he said.

He was speaking at the launch of a series of guides to combat educational disadvantage. The four volumes, aimed mainly at helping community groups with planning, funding and implementing initiatives in this area, were produced by Area Development Management, an agency established by the Government.