Michael Ring
Question:551 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is being refused a third level grant. [15911/02]
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 clause in the relevant scheme is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has, to date, been sought in the case of the student, referred to by the Deputy.
If an individual applicant considers that s/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, s/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 schemes correctly in his-her case, a letter outlining the position may be sent to my Department. Alternatively, as already indicated, the local authority or VEC may, itself, in exceptional circumstances, seek clarification on issues from my Department. However, it is not open to me, or my Department, to depart from the terms of the maintenance grants schemes in individual cases.
Finian McGrath
Question:552 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if there are grants available to assist a single mother of three children who is a non-EU national, to study nursing here; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the fees are over ?9,000; and if assistance can be given to persons in this situation as a matter of urgency. [15912/02]
Under the terms of the free fees initiative my Department meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending full-time undergraduate courses, which must be of at least two years duration, at approved colleges.
Eligible students are those who are first-time undergraduates and hold EU nationality or have official refugee status and have been ordinarily resident in an EU member state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved course. I would point out that this condition applies equally to all EU nationals, including Irish nationals, in accordance with the judgment of the European Court of Justice that access to vocational training must apply equally to all EU nationals.
Where a student is not eligible to benefit under the terms of my Department's free fees initiative, issues relating to the payment of tuition fees, including the categorisation of students into those liable to pay the EU or non-EU rate of fee, are a matter for the third level institution concerned.
In order to qualify for grant assistance under my Department's maintenance grants schemes, a candidate must at present meet the conditions relating to residence, age, means and nationality. The nationality requirement states that candidates must hold EU nationality, have official refugee status or have been granted humanitarian leave to remain in the State.
Apart from the maintenance grants schemes and the free fees initiative, financial support is available to students, in approved third level institutions, through the student assistance-access fund. The objectives of the fund, which is ESF-aided, are to assist students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise, due to their financial circumstances, be unable to continue their third level studies.
The fund is administered on a discretionary and confidential basis by each third level institution and provides direct financial support to disadvantaged students to assist them to remain on in college.
John Perry
Question:553 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will ensure that a decision is made on an application for a VEC grant by a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15914/02]
The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. My Department also funds the maintenance grants scheme for students pursuing post leaving certificate courses, which is administered by the vocational education committees.
These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has, to date, been sought in the case of the student, referred to by the Deputy.
If an individual applicant considers that s/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, s/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 schemes correctly in his/her case, a letter outlining the position may be sent to my Department. Alternatively, as already indicated, the local authority or VEC may, itself, in exceptional circumstances, seek clarification on issues from my Department. However, it is not open to me, or my Department, to depart from the terms of the maintenance grants schemes in individual cases.