Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 September 2008
1852 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review a claim for the special rate of maintenance grant by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that the reckonable income of their parents is solely from social welfare. [30437/08]
View answerThe decision on eligibility for student maintenance grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority, either the local authority or VEC, as appropriate. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department, except in exceptional circumstances.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of maintenance grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, 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/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to my Department.
