Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 1

Written Answers - Higher Education Grants.

Ivan Yates

Question:

611 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education and Science if the eligibility for higher education grants for two persons (details supplied) in County Wexford will be urgently approved; if he will clarify the position on their eligibility; and if both persons will have their grants approved and paid. [11582/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

My Department has discussed the case raised by the Deputy with County Wexford VEC, the body responsible for the administration of the two grant schemes.

The two persons, to whom the Deputy refers, are sisters, one of whom applied to County Wexford VEC for assistance under the ESF-aided third level courses maintenance grants scheme for trainees 1999 (now known as the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees). As the reckonable income was, at that time, within the relevant income limits attaching to the scheme, the candidate in question was eligible to receive a maintenance grant for the 1999-2000 academic year.

The terms of the scheme state that the award of the grant is provisional for the 1999-2000 academic year and shall not be continued in any subsequent academic year unless the VEC is satisfied that the provisions of the scheme, including those relating to reckonable income, continue to be complied with.

This candidate applied to renew her grant for the 2000-01 academic year. Her sister also applied for a grant under the ESF-aided maintenance grants scheme for students attending post leaving certificate courses in 2000. On re-assessment, it was found that the reckonable income in their case exceeded the limits prescribed under the 2000 schemes and the candidates were, accordingly, deemed ineligible to receive maintenance grants for the 2000-01 academic year. My Department has been informed that as there was a delay in receiving all details of reckonable income for the relevant period, two monthly instalments of the maintenance grant were paid to one of the candidates. County Wexford VEC has been in contact with the candidate regarding this matter.

As the schemes of student support are of general application, it is not open to me to make exceptions in individual cases.

While the candidates in question are ineligible for grant aid in the current academic year, it is of course open to them to apply for assistance in future years.