The Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2002 No. 111

EDUCATION

The Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

Made

15th March 2002

Coming into operation

8th April 2002

The Department for Employment and Learning(1), in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 3 and 8(4) of the Education (Student Support) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998(2) and now vested in it(3) and of every other power enabling it in that behalf, hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 and shall come into operation on 8th April 2002.

Amendment of the Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

2.  The Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001(4) shall be amended in accordance with these Regulations.

3.  For regulation 16(2) there shall be substituted—

“(2) The amount of grant for each week for which a student shall be eligible under paragraph (1) is:

(a)where the academic year begins in the autumn, for the period of 40 weeks beginning on the first day of the first term of the academic year:

(i)for one dependent child, 85 per cent. of the costs of the childcare, subject to a maximum amount of £114·75 per week; or

(ii)for two or more dependent children, 85 per cent. of the costs of the childcare, subject to a maximum amount of £170 per week;

(b)where the academic year begins in the winter, spring or summer, for each week of each term of the academic year and the Christmas and Easter vacations beginning on the first day of the first term of the academic year:

(i)for one dependent child, 85 per cent. of the costs of the childcare, subject to a maximum amount of £114·75 per week; or

(ii)for two or more dependent children, 85 per cent. of the costs of the childcare, subject to a maximum amount of £170 per week; and

(c)for any other week of the academic year to which sub-paragraphs (a) or (b) do not apply including a week of the summer vacation, except each week falling within the period between the end of the course and the end of the academic year in which the course ends:

(i)for one dependent child, 70 per cent. of the costs of the childcare, subject to a maximum amount of £94·50 per week; or

(ii)for two or more dependent children, 70 per cent. of the costs of the childcare, subject to a maximum amount of £140 per week.”.

4.  After regulation 30(2) insert the following paragraph:

“(2A) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(a) a degree shall not be treated as a first degree where—

(a)it is a degree (other than an honours degree) that has been awarded to an eligible part-time student who has completed the required modules, examinations or other forms of assessment for his first degree course;

(b)the course was undertaken at an educational institution in the United Kingdom; and

(c)the eligible part-time student is registered to continue the course at the same educational institution after the award of his degree so as to obtain an honours degree on completion of the required modules, examinations or other forms of assessment.”.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Employment and Learning on 15th March 2002.

L.S.

David McAuley

A senior officer of the

Department for Employment and Learning

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations, which come into operation on 8th April 2002, amend the Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.

Regulation 3 amends regulation 16(2) so that where a student’s academic year begins in the autumn he shall be eligible for 85 per cent. of the grant for dependants for childcare costs for a period of 40 weeks beginning on the first day of the first term of that year.

Where a student’s academic year begins in the winter, spring or summer he shall be eligible for 85 per cent. of the grant for dependants for childcare costs for each week of each term of the year and Christmas and Easter vacations.

For weeks of the academic year that are not covered by the former a student shall be eligible for 70 per cent. of the grant for dependants for childcare costs, except for any week that falls between the end of his course of study and the end of the academic year in which the course ends.

A new regulation 30(2A) is inserted which provides that an eligible part-time student will not be ineligible for a loan under regulation 30(2)(a) if he is awarded a first degree which is not an honours degree, that award was made because he completed the required forms of assessment at an educational institution in the United Kingdom, and he is registered to continue the honours degree course at the same institution so as to obtain an honours degree.

(1)

Formerly known as the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment; see the Department for Employment and Learning Act (Northern Ireland) 2001 c. 15

(3)

S.R. 1999 No. 481 Article 5(b) and Schedule 3 Part II