SINN Fein MLA Phil Flanagan, a Fermanagh-south Tyrone MLA, wants to see support payments made to students on a monthly basis -- but the Minister in charge says he won’t change the system.

At the moment the payments are made three times a year and last week Mr. Flanagan asked Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry if he thought this was appropriate.

“For higher education students the frequency of standard student support payments is designed to align with the beginning of each of the three terms of the academic year. I believe this payment model is appropriately flexible as it allows students to meet the up-front costs associated with each term and also to plan ahead accordingly,” said Minister Farry.

He added: “Smaller and more frequent payments could leave students struggling to meet certain up-front costs which they face at the beginning of term, for example for their accommodation and course books and equipment.” The Minister explained that Further Education Awards are paid on the same tri-annual basis “for the same reasons” and added: “The frequency of payments from the Hardship Funds, the other main source of support for further education students, varies based on individual circumstances of need as assessed by the colleges.

“I do not intend to change the frequency of when students receive support payments,” he said.

And in highlighting another issue for students, Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister if he had held talks with Social Development Minister Mervyn Storey on improving the rights of student tenants in private homes.

Minister Farry replied: “My Department provides funding to the Higher Education Institutions for teaching and learning and research purposes. The Universities are responsible for their own policies and procedures, including those relating to student accommodation. I have not had any discussions with the Minister for Social Development in relation to improving the rights of student tenants in private houses.

“However, I am advised that the Department for Social Development was present at recent University and further education college ‘freshers’ events across Northern Ireland and communicated directly with students about the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords particularly in relation to the Tenancy Deposit Scheme and Landlord Registration.”