Ned O'Keeffe
Question:279 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide a grant to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [25599/01]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
My Department understands from City of Cork VEC, the body charged with administering the relevant scheme in this case, that an application for the special rate of maintenance grant has not been received from the student, referred to by the Deputy. In the event that an application is submitted, it will be assessed by the VEC, which will then contact the applicant directly in the matter.
Tony Gregory
Question:280 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 490 of 16 October 2001, he will give the reason a person (details supplied) was refused the top-up grant. [25644/01]
My Department understands that the student in question, who is an independent mature candidate, is in receipt of the non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant, from City of Dublin VEC, under the grants scheme for students pursuing post leaving certificate courses. He was assessed by the VEC for the purpose of determining eligibility for the special rate of maintenance grant, usually referred to as the top-up grant. He was, however, deemed to be ineligible.
On the recommendation of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education, the special rates of maintenance grant is available to eligible mature students, that is, students aged 23 and over, but subject to specific conditions, in this case, in respect of the 2000-01 academic year, namely: he, or she, must qualify for one of my Department's ordinary maintenance grants; total reckonable income, after allowances are applied, in the tax year to 5 April 2000, must not exceed £6,600; as at 1 April 2000, the applicant's spouse or partner must be in receipt of one of the specified social welfare payments and be in receipt of full-rate Qualified Adult Allowance, or similar entitlement, in respect of the applicant, or the applicant, him/herself, must be in receipt of one of the specified social welfare payments.
My Department understands that the student in question was in receipt of long-term unemployment assistance, which, in respect of the applicant himself, is not an eligible payment under the terms governing the special rates of grant. Similarly, a mature independent candidate who was in receipt of long-term unemployment assistance and is currently in receipt of a back to education allowance from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, is not eligible for the special rate of maintenance grant.
My Department understands from City of Dublin VEC that the reckonable income of the student in question exceeded the income threshold for purpose of the special rate of grant. As indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 490 of 16 October, my Department has now forwarded to the Deputy full details of the eligibility criteria for the special rates of maintenance grant.