Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act, 1968

In short

This law allows local authorities to provide grants to individuals to help them attend or continue higher education courses. It also outlines how these grants are funded and administered.

What it regulates

The making of grants by local authorities for higher education.
The financial contributions of local authorities towards these grants.
The payment of funds by the Oireachtas to local authorities to cover grant costs.
The creation and approval of schemes by local authorities to implement the Act.

Who it concerns

Persons ordinarily resident in the functional area of a county borough corporation or county council who wish to pursue higher education.
Corporations of county boroughs and councils of counties.

Key points

Grants are for attending or continuing to attend "approved institutions," which include universities, university colleges, or other Minister-approved institutions offering degree-standard or equivalent courses.
To qualify for a grant, persons must meet a prescribed standard in the Leaving Certificate Examination, have means below specified limits, be within appropriate age limits, and comply with other prescribed requirements.
The amount of the grants is prescribed by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance.
Local authorities must provide a sum towards the cost of grants equal to what they provided in the local financial year ending March 31, 1968, for similar assistance.
All grants require the previous approval of the Minister for Education.

Legal text

Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act, 1968 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.

ie)Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.
ie)Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(
s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1968 Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act, 1968 Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act, 1968 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 24 of 1968 LOCAL AUTHORITIES (HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS) ACT, 1968 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section 1. Definitions. 2. Grants by local authorities to persons in respect of higher education. 3. Payments by local authorities towards cost of grants under Act. 4. Grants to local authorities. 5. Schemes by local authorities for carrying Act into effect. 6. Approval of Minister of grants by local authorities under Act. 7. Determination of disputes. 8. Expenses of Minister. 9. Repeals. 10. Short title. Act Referred to Irish Universities Act, 1908 , 1908, c. 38. Number 24 of 1968 LOCAL AUTHORITIES (HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS) ACT, 1968 AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE MAKING OF GRANTS IN CERTAIN CASES BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES OUT OF FUNDS PROVIDED BY THEM AND BY THE OIREACHTAS TO ENABLE PERSONS TO ATTEND COURSES OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TO PROVIDE FOR MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH. [15th July, 1968.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: Definitions. 1.—In this Act— “the Minister” means the Minister for Education; “approved institution” means— (
a)a university or university college in respect of its courses which are of degree standard, or (
b)any other institution of higher education for the time being approved by the Minister for the purposes of this Act, either generally or in relation to any particular grant or class of grants under section 2 of this Act, in so far as that institution provides courses which in the opinion of the Minister are equivalent to university degree courses. Grants by local authorities to persons in respect of higher education. 2.—

(1)A corporation of a county borough or council of a county shall make grants to persons who are ordinarily resident in the functional area of the corporation or council for the purpose of assisting the persons to attend or continue to attend approved institutions if— (

a)the persons reach such standard at the Leaving Certificate Examination of the Department of Education as may be prescribed from time to time by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, (
b)the means (calculated in such manner and by reference to such matters as may be specified from time to time by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance) of the persons, if any, and of the parents or guardians of the persons do not exceed such limits as may be prescribed from time to time by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, (
c)the persons are within the appropriate age limits prescribed from time to time by the Minister, and (
d)the persons comply with such other requirements as may from time to time be prescribed by the Minister.

(2)Grants under this section shall be of such amount or amounts as may be prescribed from time to time by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance. Payments by local authorities towards cost of grants under Act. 3.—A corporation of a county borough or council of a county shall provide in each local financial year towards the cost of making grants by it under section 2 of this Act in that year a sum equal to the sum provided by it in the local financial year ending on the 31st day of March, 1968, in respect of assistance under the Irish Universities Act, 1908 , and in respect of scholarships and continuing scholarships under the Local Authorities (Education Scholarships) Acts, 1944 and 1961. Grants to local authorities. 4.—There shall be paid in each year out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas to a corporation of a county borough or council of a county such sum as, when added to the sum provided by the corporation or council under section 3 of this Act in any local financial year, equals the cost of the grants made by the corporation or council in that local financial year under this Act. Schemes by local authorities for carrying Act into effect. 5.—

(1)A corporation of a county borough or council of a county shall prepare and submit to the Minister annually before such date as may from time to time be prescribed by the Minister a scheme for carrying the provisions of this Act into effect in the functional area of the corporation or council.

(2)When a scheme is submitted to the Minister under this section the Minister may either— (

a)approve of the scheme, or (
b)modify or alter the scheme in such manner as he thinks proper and approve of the scheme as so modified or altered.

(3)A scheme that has been approved under paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection

(2)of this section shall be carried out in accordance with its terms by the corporation or council by which it was prepared and, for that purpose, the corporation or council shall publish the scheme in such manner as appears to them best calculated to bring the provisions thereof to the notice of persons intended to be benefited thereby.

(4)A corporation of a county borough or council of a county may, at any time, prepare and submit to the Minister an amendment of a scheme approved by the Minister under paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection

(2)of this section and the Minister may either approve or refuse to approve of the amendment, and, if the Minister approves of the amendment, the scheme shall stand amended in accordance with the terms of the amendment.

(5)The preparation and submission to the Minister of schemes and amendments to schemes under this section shall be reserved functions for the purposes of the County Management Acts, 1940 to 1955 and of the Acts relating to the management of county boroughs. Approval of Minister of grants by local authorities under Act. 6.—A corporation of a county borough or council of a county shall not— (

a)make a grant under this Act to any person without the previous approval of the Minister, or (
b)make, during any year (other than the first year in which the grant hereinafter referred to is payable) any payments in respect of a grant under this Act consisting of a series of annual payments (payable either in one sum or in two or more instalments) during a specified period, unless the Minister has previously approved of the making, during that year, of payments in respect of that grant. Determination of disputes. 7.—Every question or dispute which shall arise in relation to the interpretation or construction of a scheme under this Act shall be determined by the Minister whose decision thereon shall be final. Expenses of Minister. 8.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. Repeals. 9.—

(1)Section 10 of the Irish Universities Act, 1908 , and the Local Authorities (Education Scholarships) Acts, 1944 and 1961, are hereby repealed.

(2)The repeal effected by subsection

(1)of this section shall not affect any assistance under the said section 10 or scholarships or continuing scholarships under the said Local Authorities (Education Scholarships) Acts, 1944 and 1961, awarded before the passing of this Act. Short title. 10.—This Act may be cited as the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act, 1968. Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais

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