The Third Level Maintenance Grant Schemes are administered by the Local Authorities and Vocational Education Committees' on behalf of my Department. The arrangement for the payment of grants and refunds of student service charges under the grant schemes are a matter for the administering authorities. Officials in Longford Vocational Education Committee have confirmed that the candidate referred to by the Deputy was awarded a full rate of maintenance grant on 2nd December 2009 and was paid all arrears by the relevant college on 7th January 2010.