For 2009 the budgeted amount for the Students' Maintenance Grant was expected to rise to just over €21.07 million, an increase of €522,148 or three per cent over the vote of €19.712 million of 2008. Answering a parliamentary question by Evarist Bartolo (PL), Education Minister Dolores Cristina explained that the main reason for the increase was the fact that students following the Technicians' Apprentice Scheme and the Extended Skills Training Scheme had been amalgamated into the main fund.