Vol. 405 No. 4
123 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Education the reason the full ESF grant has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath; if she will award the grant retrospectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The scheme of grants for persons attending ESF-aided training courses in regional technical colleges and colleges of technology is governed by regulations issued by my Department. These regulations provide, inter alia, that the lower rate of grant applies in the case of every trainee whose normal family residence is within 15 miles of the college attended and those who travel, or could reasonably be expected to travel, daily between their home and the college. The higher rate of grant may only be paid to those, not in either of the above categories, who are obliged to stay overnight in a college town.
The City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee are the authority responsible for administering the ESF scheme in the Dublin colleges. They are paying the lower rate of grant in this case on the basis of information provided by the person concerned. The committee have no knowledge of the Dunshaughlin address referred to by the Deputy. If the person's normal family residence has changed, details should be furnished to the committee so that the case for a higher rate of grant might be assessed.
