Vol. 475 No. 7
151 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education whether a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is entitled to grant assistance to go on a trip scheduled by his college in view of the fact that his parents are both in receipt of social welfare. [5679/97]
Under the terms of the higher education grants scheme eligible students, such as the student in question, may receive funding in respect of one undergraduate and one postgraduate course. Postgraduate students qualifying under the scheme may have their fees paid subject to a maximum fee limit of £2,498.
I understand from Mayo County Council that the student in question is in receipt of a grant, both fees and maintenance, under the higher education grants scheme in respect of his attendance at a postgraduate course. The grant being paid covers the student's fees up to the maximum fee limit of £2,498. The student in question is already in receipt of the maximum assistance available from my Department under the student support schemes.
I introduced a discretionary budget in 1994 to provide a hardship fund with the third level institutions to assist students who are experiencing short-term financial difficulties. The student referred to by the Deputy might wish to contact the student counsellor in his college to determine whether assistance might be made available from that fund.
