EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Education (Student Support) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. 2009 No.373) (“the 2009 Regulations”). The 2009 Regulations provide for financial support for students taking designated higher education courses in respect of an academic year beginning on or after 1st September 2010.
These Regulations make minor policy and technical changes to the 2009 Regulations and these changes are set out in the paragraphs below. These Regulations also, by regulation 14 and the Schedule, set out the increased payment rates for fee loans, grants for fees and fee contribution loans for full-time courses and sandwich courses which apply from 1st September 2016.
Regulation 3 amends regulation 8 of the 2009 Regulations to clarify the circumstances in which payments are made under regulation 8(4).
Regulation 4 amends regulation 12 of the 2009 Regulations to allow electronic signatures to be used for contracts.
Regulation 5 amends regulation 46 of the 2009 Regulations to reflect the introduction of the Childcare Payments Act 2014 (2014 c.28).
Regulations 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 amend the overpayment provisions of the 2009 Regulations.
Regulation 12 amends the 2009 Regulations to correct a mistake from earlier Regulations.
Regulation 13 amends Schedule 6 to the 2009 Regulations, which lists the Republic of Ireland institutions that have courses designated for student support.
An impact assessment has not been prepared in respect of this instrument as it has no impact on the cost of business, charities or voluntary bodies.