Michael Noonan
Question:539 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Education if a higher education grant is available for students studying for a post graduate diploma in public health nursing.
Written Answers. - Post-Graduate Nursing Students Funding.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:543 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education if she has received representations concerning the plight of 35 post-graduate nursing students at University College Dublin who have been refused higher education grants; and if she will take the necessary steps to ensure that these students are awarded appropriate grants.
Máirín Quill
Question:555 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced in relation to application for local authority third level grants on the part of post graduate students pursuing a course in public health nursing at University College Dublin; her views on whether these students are being discriminated against; the plans, if any, she has to bring them within the scope of grant eligibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 539, 543 and 555 together.
The course leading to the award of the Diploma in Public Health Nursing is of one year's duration and is designed for registered nurse-midwives who may be seconded by the health boards or be independent.
The course is not recognised as an approved post-graduate course for the purposes of the Higher Education Grants Scheme.
Grants in respect of post-graduate courses are payable under the Higher Education Grants Scheme only where candidates satisfy the requirements of the scheme, including having first obtained a primary degree.