Vol. 509 No. 6
587 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused a higher education grant while pursuing a post-graduate diploma course in Glasgow in view of the fact no similar course in this field is available in Ireland; and the provisions, if any, which can be made to pay the grant for her. [21339/99]
In 1996-97, the student support schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to eligible students following certain full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in another EU member state. The extension of the schemes at that time did not include courses at post-graduate level and accordingly, there is no grant aid available for students pursuing post-graduate studies abroad, irrespective of whether or not that course is available in Ireland. Any extension of the current arrangements to provide for students pursuing post-graduate courses abroad could only be considered in the light of available resources and other competing demands within the education sector generally.
