The ESF-aided middle level technician programme consists of one or two year courses up to national certificate level and the higher technical-business skills programme consists of three year national diploma and one year "add-on" diploma level courses. The programmes apply to those who require higher level initial education and training to enhance their employment prospects. The programmes only operate in Institutes of Technology in the State and St. Patrick's college, Carlow is not eligible to participate therein.
St. Patrick's college, Carlow is an approved college for the purposes of the higher education grants (HEG) scheme and the national certificate in applied studies (social care) is an approved course for the purpose of the scheme.
The person to whom the Deputy refers was in receipt of an ESF-aided maintenance grant in 1997-98 in respect of her attendance at the first year of the national certificate in business studies (recreation and leisure) at Cork Institute of Technology. She transferred to St. Patrick's college Carlow in 1998-999 and is now pursuing the first year of the national certificate in social studies (social care). While this is an approved course for the purposes of the HEG scheme, candidates who have previously pursued a undergraduate course approved for the purposes of the HEG scheme, the vocational educational committee scholarship scheme or the European Social Fund-aided maintenance grant scheme are not entitled to receive a grant under the HEG scheme until they have completed an equivalent period of study at undergraduate level. Accordingly, the student in question will not qualify for grant or fee assistance until she enters the second year of the course in Carlow.
This position of repeat students under the higher education grant scheme differs from that of repeat trainees under the European Social Fund-aided maintenance grant scheme, where, subject to a maximum duration of four years in all, trainees who have passed, failed or not completed the first year of a course are allowed to transfer to a different course and receive a grant for the normal duration of the new course.
I have asked my Department to take up the question of what the student was advised or her interpretation of the advice in relation to the tenure of the ESF grant with the relevant authority. I will advise the Deputy of the outcome of these investigations in due course.
