Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Feb 2003

Vol. 562 No. 1

Written Answers - Higher Education Grants.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

332 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Education and Science if an application for financial assistance or a maintenance grant will be reconsidered in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan and dealt with in the same way as has been the experience of others involved in the same course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5415/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

My Department funds three means-tested maintenance grant schemes for third level education students in respect of attendance on approved courses in approved third level institutions and one maintenance grant scheme in respect of students attending approved post leaving certificate courses in approved PLC centres: the higher education grants; scheme; the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme; the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees; and the maintenance grant scheme for students attending post leaving certificate courses.

Under the terms of the maintenance grants scheme for post leaving certificate courses 2002, grants are available to eligible candidates who are entering approved PLC courses for the first time in the 2002-2003 school year or who are already in attendance on an approved PLC course. However, candidates are ineligible if they already hold an NCVA level two or level three qualification or a third level qualification at national certificate, national diploma, degree, post-graduate or equivalent level. However, notwithstanding this condition candidates who already hold an NCVA level two qualification and are now pursuing a course that offers progression may be deemed eligible for grant aid.

The candidate, to whom the Deputy refers, already holds a higher national diploma qualification. As outlined above, students who already hold a third level qualification are ineligible for grant assistance under this scheme. It is not open to me or my Department to depart from the terms of the schemes in individual cases. With regard to the course in question, my Department will be in communication with the vocational education committees to ensure that the terms and conditions of the maintenance grant scheme for students attending post leaving certificate courses are correctly applied.