Under the regulations governing the 1991 European Social Fund-aided scheme and the 1996 ESF-aided maintenance grants scheme, a grant may not be paid in respect of a repeat year of study on the same course. A vocational education committee has discretion to waive this provision in exceptional circumstances, such as certified serious illness.
I understand that the student in question pursued a course in Limerick regional technical college in 1991-92 and was grant aided under the European Social Fund-aided scheme. The student subsequently sat and failed the 1st year and repeat examination in 1992. The college have confirmed that the student was absent for a total of eight days due to illness during the 1991-92 academic year. As students pursuing ESF-aided courses are allowed 15 days sick leave in an academic year without any reduction in the level of grant payable, the absence of eight days did not affect the level of grant payable to the student in question in 1991-92.
The student is currently pursuing the first year of the same course in Limerick regional technical college. I understand that County Cork vocational education committee has refused to award the student a grant under the ESF-aided maintenance grants scheme, having regard to the provision excluding payment in respect of a repeat year of study on the same course. I further understand that the County Cork vocational education committee do not consider that the student's sick leave in 1991-92 warrants this provision being waived.
