Cecilia Keaveney
Question:246 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal is entitled to a student grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28495/04]
View answerTuesday, 16 November 2004
Questions (191)
Written answers
My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. These are the higher education grants scheme, the vocational education committees scholarships scheme, the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees and the maintenance grants scheme for students attending post-leaving certificate courses. The higher education grants scheme is administered by the local authorities under the aegis of my Department. The other three schemes are administered by the vocational education committees.
Generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. An approved third level course for the purpose of the HEG and the VEC scholarship schemes means a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years' duration and a full time postgraduate course of not less than one year's duration pursued in an approved institution. The schemes outline their respective courses which are approved for grant purposes. Under the terms of the current and previous years HEG schemes there are only two courses in Stranmillis College approved for grant purposes, namely, the BEd degree of the Queen's University, Belfast, and the postgraduate certificate in education. The course referred to by the Deputy is not listed as an approved course.
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.
If an individual applicant considers that she or he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, 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 schemes 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, 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.