Vol. 495 No. 5
179 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will grant a concession to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 in view of the anomalous way in which the rules of higher education support have debarred her from benefit. [20753/98]
Under the terms of the third level student support schemes, maintenance grants are not payable to candidates who already hold an undergraduate degree and are pursuing a second undergraduate degree. Similarly, tuition fees are not payable in respect of a second period of college attendance at the same level. As the student referred to by the Deputy already holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, she is ineligible for a higher education grant or to benefit under the free fees initiative in respect of her studies in medicine. As the rules governing the schemes are of general application, exceptions cannot be made in individual instances.
I will, however, ask my officials to examine the effect of granting the concession suggested by the Deputy.
