Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 5

Written Answers - Higher Education Grants.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

228 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding his Department's interpretation under the higher education grants scheme of re-entering, where a mature student enters the third level system to study at postgraduate level as a mature candidate following a break of at least one year and having previously attended an undergraduate course approved for the purpose of the scheme; and if the one year concerned was spent by the student attending a post leaving certificate course, if they qualify as a re-entering mature applicant for a grant under this clause. [10067/03]

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

Under the terms of my Department's third level maintenance grant schemes, a mature student is defined as a candidate who is at least 23 years of age on 1 January of the year of entry or re-entry to an approved course. Mature students are categorised as either independent mature students or mature students dependent on parents. An independent mature student is defined to mean a mature student who was not ordinarily resident at home with his-her parents from the October preceding their entry or re-entry to an approved course. Independent mature students are assessed without reference to either their parents' income or address.

When assessing the means of students other than independent mature students, the schemes specify that the students' means and those of their parents or guardians must be below a prescribed limit. This provision requires that parental income be taken into account irrespective of the individual circumstances in any case where the student is not an independent mature student. Generally speaking, candidates continue to be assessed under the terms and conditions of the scheme appropriate to their year of entry. Accordingly, candidates who were not classified as independent mature students at the time of entry to an approved course may not generally be assessed as such for the duration of their courses.

There is, however, provision under the terms of the schemes for candidates who are re-entering as mature students, following a break in study of at least one year, to pursue or complete an approved course for the first time. Such candidates may be assessed under the terms of the scheme appropriate to the year in which they re-enter. In addition to the three third level maintenance grant schemes, my Department also funds a maintenance grant scheme in respect of students attending approved post-leaving certificate courses in approved PLC centres. A year spent pursuing an approved PLC course, which has attracted Exchequer funding, does not constitute a break of one year as defined under the terms of the third level maintenance grant schemes. Such students may, however, be assessed under the terms and conditions of the scheme appropriate to their year of entry to an approved third level course.