Róisín Shortall
Question:247 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress to date in securing a school building for Coláiste Cois Life, Lucan, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29214/01]
Vol. 544 No. 4
247 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress to date in securing a school building for Coláiste Cois Life, Lucan, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29214/01]
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the design team is currently working on a stage 3 submission – developed sketch scheme – for the provision of a new school for Coláiste Cois Life, Lucan, County Dublin.
248 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a payment has not been made to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [29215/01]
My Department funds three means tested maintenance grant schemes for third level education students in respect of attendance on approved courses in approved third level institutions – the higher education grants scheme, the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme, the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees. The statutory framework for the higher education grants schemes is set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. The local authorities administer the schemes on behalf of my Department. The vocational education committees' scholarship scheme and the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees are administered, on behalf of my Department, by the vocational education committees. My Department reviews the schemes annually. All three schemes have broadly similar provisions, relating, for example, to age, residency and means, which govern the award of a grant.
It is the relevant local authority or VEC to which application for a grant must be made. Decisions on applications are taken by these bodies based on the terms of the schemes which issue from my Department. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has, to date, been sought in the case of the student, referred to by the Deputy.