Noel Dempsey
Question:176 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Education if the higher education grant scheme covers courses for occupational therapy in colleges in the United Kingdom. [20367/96]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
The schemes of student support provide for the extension of means tested maintenance grants in the 1996-97 academic year to students following full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in an EU member state. The course must be followed in a university or third level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds. The following courses are excluded: postgraduate courses; courses in Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, which are subject to a Higher Education Authority quota on places, and teacher training including those leading to the award of Bachelor of Education, also subject to a quota; courses in colleges of further and higher education; courses in colleges akin to private commercial colleges in Ireland; and courses provided in colleges in Britain which are offered in a private commercial third level college in Ireland and which are validated by that British college. Students pursuing courses such as occupational therapy which satisfy the above criteria may apply to their local authority-VEC to have their eligibility for grant aid assessed.