Where a candidate qualifies for a maintenance grant, and is pursuing an approved course to which the Free Fees Initiative applies, the assessing authorities will award a grant in respect of the Student Services Charge. This grant — of up to €1,500 for 2009/10 — is paid directly to the institution by the assessing authority. A student approved for grant assistance will receive an award letter from their assessing authority which they should produce to the fees office of their institution. The institution will then invoice the relevant assessing authority accordingly. Any student who has already commenced their course and paid their student services charge, who is subsequently approved for grant assistance under the grant scheme, will be reimbursed by their institution to the value of student services charge invoiced to, and paid by, the assessing authority under the relevant grant scheme.
The organisation and management of student support scheme grants is a matter for individual Vocational Educational Committees and Local Authorities. These bodies seek to ensure that students get decisions on their grant applications and are paid as soon as possible. It is essential that students return fully completed application forms and all necessary supporting documentation as early as possible to enable decisions to be made with regard to entitlement.
