Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 November 2013
96. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if grant aid is available to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who has obtained a place at Bristol Academy of Music to study a degree course in music; and if any financial assistance may be given to the person for accommodation. [49788/13]
View answerUnder the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means.
Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution. An approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution.
Students who are attending undergraduate courses in an EU Member State, can apply for a maintenance grant in respect of an approved course which is being pursued in an approved institution. The student grant scheme does not extend to postgraduate courses pursued outside of Ireland.
The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application in relation to means, residency, nationality and previous academic attainment, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a grant. To determine eligibility, a student may submit a fully completed online grant application to www.susi.ie.
