Michael Ring
Question:304 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused the top-up maintenance grant as an independent mature student. [7876/03]
Written Answers - Higher Education Grants.
Decisions in relation to top up maintenance grants are a matter for the local authority or VEC concerned. 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, to date, been sought in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy.
If an individual applicant considers that he or she has been unjustly refused the special rate of maintenance grant, he or she 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. No appeal has been received in the student support unit of my Department from the student, referred to by the Deputy. Alternatively, as already indicated, the local authority or VEC may, itself, in exceptional circumstances, seek clarification on issues from my Department. It is not open to me, or to my Department, to depart from the terms of the schemes in individual cases.