Michael Ring
Question:537 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Galway can be reassessed for the third level maintenance top-up grant 2000-01. [15766/02]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular condition is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has been sought in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy.
If an individual applicant considers that she or he has been unjustly refused the special rate of maintenance grant, she or he may appeal to the relevant local authority or VEC.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by the relevant local authority or VEC, and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the conditions correctly in his or her case, a letter outlining the position may be sent to my Department. Alternatively, as already indicated, the local authority or VEC may in exceptional circumstances, seek clarification on issues from my Department.
Based on details supplied to my Department with representations previously received from the Deputy in respect of the candidate, it would appear the reckonable income in this case exceeds the set income threshold for purposes of the special rates of maintenance grant.
It is not open to me, or to my Department, to depart from the terms of the special rates of maintenance grants schemes in individual cases.
Question No. 538 answered with Question No. 531.