Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 November 2006
237 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science if there is assistance available to students wishing to study in Australia for a final year of an Irish course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38020/06]
View answerMy Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students which are administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees.
The Higher Education Grant Scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for maintenance grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means and nationality.
The decision on eligibility for third level or further education 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.
The Third Level Student Support Schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to eligible students pursuing approved full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration (pursued in a university or a third level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds) in other EU Member States with effect from the 1996/97 academic year. The extension of the Schemes at that time did not include courses at postgraduate level or to courses outside the EU and, accordingly, there is no grant aid available under the schemes for students pursuing studies outside of the EU.
However clause 7.3 of the Higher Education Grants Scheme 2006 and the Vocational Education Committees Scholarship Scheme 2006 provides that where grant-holders, as part of their approved course, are required to attend foreign university courses for a period of up to one year, a maintenance award may continue to be paid where the period abroad does not affect the normal duration of the approved course.
If the Deputy has a particular case in mind and provides more detailed information in relation to the case the matter can be examined further.
