Although a major anomaly in the third-level grants scheme has been addressed in the Budget, the financial situation of mature students still remains onerous. So says Mike Egan, spokesperson for the Irish Mature Students Association. The Budget allocates £2.4 million to an extension of the maintenance-grants scheme so that all independent mature students will qualify for the higher non-adjacent rate of grant. Until now, mature students have been given the adjacent grant rate (£660 instead of the full grant of £1,662) when taking up a college place involving a move away from home.

Egan says a number of issues relating to mature students still remain. Under the present system, mature students who live with their parents - whatever their ages - are assessed as being dependent on parental income. "It's not only unjust, it is, frankly, insulting. It is difficult enough for returning adult learners to access a place in higher education without being subjected to additional financial penalties." The fees charged on part-time courses also discourage people from disadvantaged backgrounds. While the tax relief on such fees is welcome, it is of little advantage to people on low incomes, he stresses.

"At the moment, mature students constitute only 5 per cent of the State's college population as compared to over 25 per cent in Northern Ireland and Britain." Egan is, however, encouraged by the publication of the Green Paper on Adult Education. "It gives us hope that the Government will redress these deficiencies in the grants scheme and in the process enhance the opportunity for greater participation by mature students."