Equality assessment on student finance is published

The Department for Employment and Learning has published the report of an Equality Impact Assessment carried out on the student finance proposals announced earlier this year by Minister Sean Farren.

The proposals, which amount to a £65 million investment in student support, include new bursaries in higher and further education for students from low income families, the abolition of tuition fees for vocational courses in further education, and an increase in the number of places available in higher education.

Explaining that the report was prepared in accordance with the Department’s commitments outlined in its Equality Scheme, a Department spokesman said: "The report follows a wide-ranging public equality consultation in which the majority of respondents have given a broad welcome to the Minister’s student support proposals or have welcomed various elements within the overall package.

“As the report indicates, a number of issues of detail have been raised and these will be pursued by the Department. Among these are the data collection requirements for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of the changes in increasing participation and widening access to higher and further education."

Stressing the importance of students being able to benefit from the Minister’s package at the earliest possible time, the spokesman indicated that work was well in hand with the Education and Library Boards, the universities and colleges and other partners in the system to ensure speedy implementation. (MB)